The COMET helps Central Midlands riders get COVID-19 vaccines with free transit and clear site information.
Walk-up COVID-19 vaccines and testing are available at COMET Central through a Health Force partnership.
COVID Vaccine date for October is 10/24/2022 from 9 am until 2 pm. Those receiving COVID-19 vaccines or boosters may receive a $50 gift card while supplies last.
This transit hub is located at the corner of Laurel and Sumter streets.
FREE VACCINE AND TESTING!
Through a partnership with Health Force, The COMET has set up a vaccine site at COMET Central in the back gated parking lot. No appointment is necessary, however if you want to reserve a spot contact: Health Force at 1–844-579-1500 or www.HealthForceUs.com. COVID-19 testing is also available at COMET Central through Health Force.
Vaccination and testing times: Beginning October 1, 2022: Monday, October 24, 9:00 a.m.- 2 p.m. Times will fluctuate due to inclement weather
Free rides to vaccination sites via The COMET.
You can ride The COMET for free to take you where you need to go to receive your vaccine. Below are the major vaccination locations and corresponding COMET routes. You may need to show proof of your vaccine appointment to the bus operator.
DART, PUP, and V-TRIP help eligible riders reach COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
Provided within 3/4 of a mile of either side of a The COMET shared, non-express, fixed route bus. Call 803.255.7123 for reservations Monday – Friday, 9-5. Specify that you are going to your COVID-19 vaccine appointment. You may need to show proof of your vaccine appointment to the bus operator.
The COMET Pick Up Program gives you a debit card to pay up to $50 a month in taxi, Lyft or Uber rides. Registration required.
Available if you: 1. Live outside The COMET service area. 2. Live inside Richland or Lexington County. 3. Live inside the Columbia Urbanized Area. Call Brittany Terry, Mobility Management Specialist to register and get started at 803-834-2382 (TTY/TDD: 711) or email: mobility@thecometsc.gov.
V-TRIP lets riders get money back to pay the people in their life who drive them. If you have a friend from church, work, school, or the neighborhood, who gives you a ride this program may help cover gas. You can travel up to 100 miles a month and a list of trips made must be submitted monthly to be reimbursed. Registration required.
Available if you: 1. Live outside The COMET service area. 2. Live inside Richland or Lexington County. 3. Live inside the Columbia Urbanized Area. Call Brittany Terry, Mobility Management Specialist to register and get started at 803-834-2382 (TTY/TDD: 711) or email: mobility@thecometsc.gov.
Call The COMET at 803.255.7100 for help getting to your vaccine appointment.
The COMET put stringent cleaning and safety measures in place to keep Midlands riders and operators safe.
When the state and the country were suddenly struck with the COVID-19 pandemic and all the implications, The COMET went to work.
The COMET immediately worked to establish some of the most stringent cleaning and safety measures in the transit industry including mandating masks for all drivers and passengers, upgrading the buses with barriers between the drivers and passengers to minimize exposure, following protocols for tracing and tracking, requiring bus operators and staff to use multiple temperature check stations upon reporting for shifts and increasing disinfection of all vehicles and facilities. Along with the daily sanitizing of facilities, The COMET established a process to notify the public if a customer-facing employee tests positive for COVID-19 for the purpose of contact tracing to minimize spread. The COMET is working hard to keep the community safe while continuing to provide vital transportation to the people of the Midlands.
Masks are strongly recommended on The COMET, and fixed-route trips must be one-way to a destination.
Masks or other face coverings are strongly recommended when accessing all COMET buses, vehicles and facilities. This is for the safety and well-being of our bus operators, passengers, and employees.
Travel on fixed route must be one-way to a specific location – no continuous riding without a destination.
