DHEC: More than 100 independent pharmacies added as vaccine providers DHEC: More than 100 independent pharmacies added as vaccine providers By Drew Aunkst | March 3, 2021 at 11:21 PM EST - Updated March 3 at 11:21 PM COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - As South Carolina makes the move to phase 1b, increasing vaccine access in rural communities continues to be a priority for DHEC. “We are trying to increase the amount going to providers, we are trying to spread the number of providers,” DHEC Senior Deputy for Public Health Nick Davidson said. In rural areas, many residents struggle to use the internet and often do not have access to a car or bus to get to vaccination sites.