Federal inmates to receive COVID vaccine Friday under pilot program, union says
The union representing federal correctional officers is expressing disappointment, upon hearing news hundreds of doses of COVID vaccine are be delivered later this week to federal inmates across the country.
While it’s not clear how many doses are destined for Saskatchewan Penitentiary at Prince Albert, a total of 600 inmates are scheduled to be vaccinated as part of phase one of Correctional Service Canada’s (CSC) pilot program. Each of the inmates would in turn receive the required two doses over a few weeks; and sick and elderly prisoners will be given priority. It’s unclear which vaccine the inmates will receive.
“Our members are working in institutions right now that have been declared as pandemic sites, and they are not being afforded the protection of a vaccine. They should be a priority,” Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO-SACC-CSN) National President Jeff Wilkins said.
“CSC has an obligation to provide essential health care to federally incarcerated inmates.” – CSC Commissioner Anne Kelly