Capricornia Correctional Centre prisoners and staff access COVID-19 vaccines

Across Central Queensland, thousands of residents are rolling up their sleeves to get the jab - including inmates and staff at the Capricornia Correctional Centre.

Prisoners and staff at the Capricornia Correctional Centre have had private access to COVID-19 vaccinations, with almost 1,000 doses administered on-site.

According to Queensland Health data, as of October 3, 952 vaccination doses have been administered in the Capricornia Offender Health Service.

The figure represents the number of doses provided, not the number of people vaccinated. It should be noted full vaccination is two doses.

“All prisoners at Capricornia who requested vaccinations have received them, and health staff at the centre have moved to providing vaccinations on a rolling schedule for new arrivals and existing prisoners who did not take up the initial opportunity,” Queensland Corrective Services said.

“Officers have had some access to vaccines at the centre, both during clinics for prisoners, and at officer-specific clinics in addition to the other channels.

“All QCS officers are able to access vaccines as a part of the 1B priority group, as were prisoners.

“Capricornia Correctional Centre officers have a number of avenues to access vaccines, including a priority online booking service, as well as being able to access vaccines through Queensland Health clinics and their personal GP.”

The Capricornia Correctional Centre has a capacity of 957 high security prisoners and in July it was reported the prison was at 127 per cent capacity.

Across the state, Queensland Health has administered about 8,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to prisoners.

“Statewide, there has been very high take-up of vaccinations amongst prisoners.”

There have been no outbreaks of COVID-19 at the Rockhampton jail.

Visits to the prison have been temporarily stopped at various points during the pandemic, when community outbreaks have occurred.

“We are encouraging visitors to our centres to get vaccinated at the first available opportunity to protect our officers, prisoners and their loved ones,” QCS said.

Australian Government vaccination data released Tuesday revealed residents in the Livingstone Shire region were embracing the vaccine at a higher rate than surrounding Central Queensland areas.

Of the residents aged 15 years or older in Livingstone, 43.7 per cent were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with 59.8 per cent having had their first dose.

The Rockhampton region had the next highest vaccination rate with 42.6 per cent of eligible residents vaccinated, and 59.4 per cent having had their first dose.

In Gladstone, 40.7 per cent of residents are fully vaccinated with 58.1 per cent having their first jab.

Meanwhile in the Central Highlands 34.5 per cent are protected and 50.2 per cent have had their first dose.