News24 reports that according to the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), more than 68,500 prison inmates have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
The department estimates all inmates will be vaccinated by mid-August. DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said the vaccination of inmates would go a long way towards reducing mortality and preventing institutional outbreaks. DCS officials have not been left behind and those who have been vaccinated thus far stands at 12,328. "Vaccines are not mandatory, but inmates and officials are encouraged to get vaccinated. Awareness campaigns targeting both inmates and officials are continually rolled out to demystify some of the myths around vaccines," Nxumalo indicated. There have been 15,052 cases of Covid-19 at correctional facilities, made up of 9,342 officials and 5,710 inmates. The recovery rate has been 92.23% (13,882), while 221 officials and 90 inmates have died of Covid-19 complications. In addition to the vaccination drive, newly admitted inmates were being placed in isolation sites to protect the general inmate population, Nxumalo reported.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by NIcole McCain at News24
- See too, Close to 70,000 prison inmates jabbed, DCS reveals, at The Citizen
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