Prison officers who are serving in all prisons in the country will be vaccinated against COVID-19 from tomorrow, Prisons Department said.

Prisons Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake said, accordingly, COVID-19 vaccine will be administrate to about 5,100 prison officers.

Initially, the prison officers based in the Western Province will be vaccinated from tomorrow at the Prisons Training College and those in other prisons will be vaccinated subsequently, the spokesman said.

He said the Health Ministry has recommended that prison officers should be vaccinated as they are using the public transport and also engage in duties that they may face the risk of being contracted with the virus.

Meanwhile, the spokesman said at least 4,700 prison inmates and officers were infected from COVID-19 and 4,549 of them have recovered. He said only 171 inmates and officers are currently receiving treatment.