All prison officers to be inoculated from today

• Prison officers should be vaccinated as they were using the public transport

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

Prison officers who are serving in prisons countrywide will be vaccinated against COVID-19 from today, Prisons Department said.   

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

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

He said the Health Ministry had recommended that prison officers should be vaccinated as they were using the public transport and also engaged 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 had been infected from COVID-19 and that 4,549 of them had recovered. He said only 171 inmates and officers were currently receiving treatment. 

• At least 4,700 prison inmates and officers had been infected from COVID-19