The COMET Offers Free COVID-19 Vaccines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pamela Bynoe-Reed
Director of Marketing and Community Affairs/Public Information Officer
803.255.7139 - o 803.834.1811 - m
Pbynoe-reed@thecometsc.gov

THE COMET TO OFFER FREE COVID-19 VACCINES

(April 29, 2021) Columbia, SC -The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET), in partnership with Health Force, LLC, will offer free COVID-19 vaccinations beginning Monday, May 3. Vaccines are free to the public on a first-come, first-served basis at the COMET Central transit hub located at the corner of Laurel and Sumter Streets.

There are two vaccines that will be offered by The COMET and Health Force, LLC. One is through Janssen, a division of Johnson & Johnson and only requires one shot to be effective. The other is Moderna, which requires a follow-up shot within 28 days. Those interested will have their preference.

"We want to ensure that access to this vaccine is readily available to the public and transportation is an integral part of that conversation," said LeRoy DesChamps, Interim Executive Director of The COMET. "As part of The COMET's 'Don't Miss Your Shot' vaccination transportation campaign, we are trying to reach as many people as we can by also providing vaccines on-site at our transit hub. Transportation's role is that of a connector, which is why The COMET is involved."

No appointment is necessary, however, if a reservation is desired, contact: Health Force at 1-844-579-1500 or www.HealthForceUs.com.

"Health Force is pleased to work with The COMET to provide vaccines at the COMET Central location.  Often, we think that urban areas are not underserved, but that is far from the truth," said Valerie Aiken, CEO of Health Force, LLC. "While the site will be open to everyone who wants a vaccination, this location services the urban, suburban, and rural populations. Vaccine clinics should not only serve the people who drive to appointments, but also those who bike, walk, or ride," added Aiken.

Hours of Operation

Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays:  8:00 a.m. - noon and 2:00p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Sundays:  10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

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About The COMET:  The COMET is a service of the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority and provides countywide public transit services on 34 fixed routes, OnDemand/ReFlex services, vanpool service for commuters, subsidy programs with Uber and Lyft and DART for transportation to grocery stores and at night, ADA complementary paratransit service throughout Richland and portions of Lexington Counties and eight Blue Bike bikeshare stations in Downtown Columbia. The COMET transports approximately 2.8 million passenger trips a year on a fleet of more than 80 buses, vans, and trolleys. Transit services are provided under contract with RATP Dev USA, Enterprise Holdings, Lyft, Uber, and Bewegen. For additional The COMET information, please call (803) 255-7100, TDD/TTY: 711 through the relay service, email: info@catchthecomet.org, or visit www.catchthecomet.org.

Catch The COMET...We Will Take You There!