COVID Vaccine for CT Inmates – What You Need to Know
The COVID vaccine for CT inmates began being administered in Connecticut on December 14th, 2020. Since then, Governor Lamont has created a plan that consists of different eligibility phases for local citizens to receive the vaccine. In this plan, inmates and those working at correctional facilities were added into Phase 1B of the vaccination process, along with nursing homes. But inmates, their loved ones, and their supporters still hold some apprehension about the process, as it’s a complex one that’s easier said than done.
With many questions circulating on how inmates will safely receive their COVID-19 vaccination, read below for more information about the process and what COVID-19 has looked like in CT prisons thus far.
Inmates and Correctional Facilities During the Pandemic
The pandemic hit Connecticut correctional facilities hard. Since the start of this pandemic, there have been hundreds of positive cases found among staff, inmates, and visitors at these facilities. Over 4,000 inmates and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 since mid-March of 2020. This has resulted in 19 inmate deaths caused by the virus, six of them happened this year. Many have linked the source of these outbreaks in CT jails to the close quarters shared between inmates and staff without proper protection. Becoming a prevalent problem throughout the pandemic, other issues have also arisen, such as a lack of sanitary cleansing and risks associated with transferring sick patients throughout the facilities.
The Vaccination Process for CT Inmates
To administer the COVID vaccine for CT inmates, healthcare workers from Griffon Hospital have set up clinics in seven different prisons for inmates and staff. The first round of doses was administered to inmates on February 1st. The group included 27 prisoners who were aged 75 and over, one of the few groups eligible for the vaccine at the time under Connecticut state guidelines. The Department of Corrections set vaccination dates has moved along as scheduled and administered second-round doses for these inmates on February 22nd. Along with this, over 1,200 staff have received their first doses as well.
The next phase of vaccinations covered inmates aged 65-74 and is set to vaccinate about 208 prisoners from all over the state.
Moving forward with the rest of the state, vaccinations for inmates will be administered along with eligibility requirements for the state; once a prisoner is eligible by state guidelines, they will receive their vaccine. In the meantime, correctional facility officers and staff are now focusing on educating their coworkers and inmates about the vaccine and its importance.
For more questions regarding the COVID vaccine for ct inmates, visit Connecticut’s Department of Corrections website and FAQs for phase 1B.
For more resources for inmates and their families, see the latest articles:
York Correctional Institution | Connecticut’s Women Prison
Hartford Correctional Center North Meadows, Hartford CT
Bail Bonds New Haven Correctional (Whalley Jail)
