(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Corrections and COVID

Inmate vaccination plan rolls out; COVID spreads at Willow Cree Healing Lodge

Jan 9, 2021 | 10:00 AM

The first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to federal inmates.

The 600 doses were distributed Friday amongst Saskatoon’s Regional Psychiatric Centre, the Regional Treatment Centre in Ontario, Drummond Institution (Quebec), and Springhill Institution (Nova Scotia). According to a statement from the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), planning for further clinics is underway.

“Under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA), CSC has an obligation to provide essential health care to inmates. To this effect, we will be vaccinating the inmate population,” the statement said.

The CSC statement goes on to explain they have been working closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and received doses of the Moderna vaccine, which was recently approved by Health Canada.

“At this time, as per the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) guidelines, CSC will be vaccinating approximately 600 older offenders prioritized by age and underlying medical conditions,” the CSC confirmed.

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Since the beginning of the pandemic, CSC has implemented infection prevention and control measures at all its sites, including mandatory masking for staff and inmates, and restricting both recreation time and visitation. The union representing the correctional officers argued its members should be given first priority over the inmates.

“Provinces will provide vaccines to our employees, based on the NACI prioritization. We have been working closely with provinces to identify our health care and frontline workers for prioritization and some health care staff have already been vaccinated,” the CSC statement explained, adding the process is evolving quickly and they expect more health care staff to receive the vaccine soon.

Meanwhile a public health order requiring all employees at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary to isolate when at home, and not interact with other members of the household, was scheduled to end Monday. A spokesperson for the CSC confirmed for paNOW Friday the plan had not changed.

Outbreak at Willow Cree Healing Lodge

As of Friday, a total of eight inmates and two individuals who work at Willow Cree Healing Lodge (WCHL) near Duck Lake, have tested positive for COVID-19.

In-person visits from Elders are suspended at this time, however Elders are available via telephone. Elders continue to offer spiritual ceremony and healing prayers for Willow Cree Healing Lodge from home.

“We are committed to reducing the risks of COVID-19 in our operations and keeping inmates, our employees, and the public safe. We will continue to work with our public health partners, as well as engage with unions and stakeholders in taking the necessary steps to ensure everyone’s safety,” the CSC said.

What’s the vaccination plan for the provincial jails?

While no definite plans have been confirmed to vaccinate provincial inmates, a statement Friday from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, indicated “further sequencing of vulnerable populations will take place as additional vaccine supplies are received.”

As of Jan. 8, a total of 6,015 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Saskatchewan, with nearly 1,200 delivered in the last twenty-four hours. This includes 2,069 Pfizer doses and 815 second doses in the Regina pilot program; 2,627 Pfizer doses in Saskatoon; 160 Pfizer doses in Prince Albert; and 344 Moderna doses in the Far North West zone.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell