Corrections, youth justice fearful over lack of Covid booster program

Inmates say they are ‘fearing for their lives’ as it is revealed Justice Health has failed to implement a Covid booster program as Omicron sweeps through NSW prisons.

Inmates in prisons across the state are “fearing for their lives” after Corrections staff revealed a Covid vaccine booster program had not been set up in a single facility.

Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network have been criticised for failing to rollout a booster vaccination program of inmates inside correctional and juvenile justice facilities across the state, with shocking jab figures revealed to NSW parliament.

An inside look into Silverwater Jail in Sydney during the COVID-19 pandemic. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Justice Health data revealed only 82.3 per cent of inmates have been double-vaccinated against Covid in NSW Prisons despite a series of outbreaks, while a shockingly low 70.7 per cent of youth between 12 and 18 years have been fully vaccinated in juvenile justice facilities.

This compares to 94.1 per cent of the general NSW population aged 16 and over being fully vaccinated and 83.4 per cent of 12-15-year-old with two jabs.

It comes as Correctional sources revealed to NewsLocal that Justice Health has not launched a vaccination booster program, with fears inmates will be exposed due to a lack of boosters.

“I would be surprised if any more than a dozen inmates have received booster shots across the entire network,” a Corrections source said.

“Vaccination rates fluctuate, but officers, inmates and their families are fearful for their lives because of the lack of booster rollout.”

Almost 45 per cent of NSW residents have received their booster shot.

Supermax prison in Goulburn. Picture: Toby Zerna

Opposition Corrections spokeswoman Tara Moriarty said the current Covid outbreak in NSW prisons, which has reached 610 inmates, was “of major concern and is putting corrections officers and inmates at risk”.

Vaccination rates in NSW prisons and youth justice centres remain alarmingly low … and significantly lower than vaccination rates in the wider community,” she said.

“In addition to that, despite the Government’s push for booster shots, I’ve been contacted by a number of families who say people inside are unable to access booster shots at all.

“This is a significant health failure — there is no shortage of vaccine and the failure to do more puts the whole community at risk.”

A spokeswoman for Justice Health said the department was working with Corrective Services and Youth Justice NSW to “protect patients and staff”.

An inside look into Silverwater Jail in Sydney during the COVID-19 pandemic. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Since March 2021, all adults and young people in publicly-run NSW correctional and youth detention settings have had access to a COVID-19 vaccination,” she said.

“Vaccines continue to be offered in line with Commonwealth Government and NSW Health advice, including third dose (booster) vaccinations.

“In NSW, more than 82 per cent of adults and almost 71 per cent of young people in custody had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine as at 8 February 2022.

“Other COVID-19 safety measures include quarantining all new entries to custody from the general prison population for 14 days, using comprehensive PPE, and conducting regular symptom screening and testing. Rapid Antigen Testing is also enabling immediate indications of COVID-19 positive people entering custody.”