COVID-19 vaccine warning in 2026? SC seeks signed disclaimer from patients
Before receiving another dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, South Carolinians could hear a new disclaimer from the person administering the shot, if a proposed Senate bill passes next year.
The administrator would have to say to each patient that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination is “novel” and the long-term safety of the vaccine is unknown.
They’ll also have to say the vaccine is “contaminated by the presence of fragments of bacterial plasmid DNA encapsulated in a lipid nanoparticle delivery vehicle.”
The person receiving the vaccine will also have to sign a notice stating they understood those statements.
Physicians and federal government officials have broadly advocated for the vaccine’s safety and urged uptake, saying any possible side effects outweigh the potential consequences of having COVID-19.
“We are certainly weighing risks, with risks of disease, with risks of treatments and risks of vaccines,” Elizabeth Mack, a pediatric critical care physician, told state lawmakers. “That is not an equation that is foreign to us. So I appreciate what you’re saying. But unfortunately, it was not the case that this [COVID-19] was just a cold or another mild childhood illness, and thankfully, we did not see significant harm from the vaccine.”
Lawmakers heard invited testimony Tuesday on the measure introduced earlier this year. It was passed out of subcommittee into the full Senate Medical Affairs committee, with only state Sen. Deon Tedder, D-Charleston, opposing it.
Several invited individuals testified the vaccine was dangerous and could impact DNA, claims broadly rejected by scientists and experts.
Sen. Tom Corbin, R- Greenville, the bill’s sponsor, said it was his intention to warn people about the potential health effects of the vaccine.
“All we’re trying to do here is inform the public that that vaccine may be contaminated and that it could possibly cause you some health concerns,” Corbin said before testimony began. “That’s all this bill does. It doesn’t try to remove the vaccine. It doesn’t do any penalties.”
Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its adult and child immunization schedules. Instead of a blanket recommendation of the COVID-19 vaccine for next year, the federal agency said to consult a doctor before receiving another dose. Other medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommended the vaccine for all children over six months.
An estimated one of every seven adults in South Carolina received a 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccination, according to April data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In comparison, about 1 in 5 U.S. adults received a 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccination.
This story was originally published November 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "COVID-19 vaccine warning in 2026? SC seeks signed disclaimer from patients."