Wisconsin has begun vaccinating its prison population in the past week, ahead of expanding eligibility to everyone 16 and older in the state on April 5. Prisoners were eligible as the last priority group in Phase 1B–a group that opened to vaccinations on March 1. Phase 1C, a group of more than 2 million new eligible individuals with 20 underlying medical conditions, opened for vaccinations on March 22.
As of Monday, 680 prisoners had gotten at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine; the state has an incarcerated population of just under 20,000. The highest number of vaccinations–between 50 and 100–were reported at facilities in Jackson, New Lisbon, Oshkosh, Racine, Redgranite, and Stanley.
“We have been fortunate to see much lower COVID-19 numbers in our institutions after the fall surge of cases across Wisconsin, and vaccination is the next step in further reducing those numbers,” DOC Secretary Kevin Carr said in a statement. “We have been sharing information with persons in our care about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine, and encouraging vaccination for their own health and safety, as well as that of our staff and the communities where our facilities are located.”
A spokesperson says inmates are getting a mix of vaccine types, and are being vaccinated by the DOC’s health services staff. Staff vaccinations had already begun by March 23, according to an update from Sec. Carr.
More than half of Wisconsin’s inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, with at least 26 prisoners dying, according to the latest update from the DOC. Infection rates have dropped off in 2021, after large outbreaks at facilities around Wisconsin in the fall and early winter.
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