South Africa vaccinates more than 68,500 inmates against COVID-19

South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has announced that 68,593 inmates have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

DCS also announced that it is on course towards vaccinating the entire inmate population by mid August.

“This dynamic vaccination drive demonstrates that DCS is on a positive direction towards reaching herd immunity within correctional facilities,” DCS said in a statement.

According to the DCS, the daily vaccination target remains at 8,391. Correctional officials have also not been left behind, a total of 12,328 officials have been inoculated.

The current standard operating procedures in the correctional services have enforced a necessary barrier in the form of a protection wall between the general inmate population and the newly admitted persons who are to be placed in the isolation sites until cleared.

Vaccination is not mandatory but inmates and officials have been encouraged to get vaccinated.

currently, COVID-19 positive cases within the correctional services stand at 15,052 (9,342 officials and 5,710 inmates).

A total of 13,882 recoveries have been recorded.

Unfortunately, a total of 221 officials and 90 inmates have succumbed to COVID-19 complications.