Inmates over 45 at Mysuru Central Prison get jabbed

MYSURU: In a special drive, authorities at Mysuru Central Prison have administered the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to all inmates aged 45 years and above. Plans are also afoot to inoculate all inmates above 18 years.
There are about 775 inmates, including women, at the prison and their health is being monitored every day. Officials say the temperature of every inmate is monitored daily, and anyone with symptoms is quarantined in a separate cell, which has been converted into a fever clinic.
So far, 30 inmates have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.They have been shifted to the Covid hospital and care centre. Meanwhile, a temporary quarantine centre has been established at a school in Kailaspuram where all those who have given swab samples for testing are being kept until results are released.
KC Divyashree, chief superintendent, said so far 178 or 93% of the inmates, who had produced identity proof, have been vaccinated, but now there is an order from higher ups to vaccinate all those who have been left out due to want of identity proof.
“Soon, every inmate who is 18 and above will be vaccinated, and talks are underway with the health department to facilitate this,” Divyashree said. All prison staffers have been vaccinated to protect them against SARS-CoV-2, although five of them, who had travelled, tested positive. They are in home isolation, and in a stable condition. A Covid negative report is compulsory for them to get back to work.