Vaccinate prisoners
When the COVID-19 pandemic was in its early stages many voices called for releasing large numbers of prisoners to home confinement. This would reduce crowding and remove as many as possible from the risk of rapid transmission of the virus.
That idea was not acted upon, for an obvious reason: Those in prison had been convicted of significant or serious crimes. Their sentences were at least in part for the protection of the public. But with that understandable calculation comes responsibility for the health of those confined. It follows from the decision not to release large numbers of prisoners, that both staff and inmates should be prioritized for vaccination on the same basis as all others in a congregate living situation.
The right thing to do is to treat prisons like any other congregate living situation, no greater priority, no lesser priority. This is not only for the protection of prisoners and staff, but the general community. Prisoners are released from that environment every day, and staff commute home every day.
To anyone who might think, well, then vaccinate the staff, but prisoners don’t deserve it: Even if staff are vaccinated, commuting daily into and out of a super spreader environment will provide ample opportunity for transmission. So let’s vaccinate everyone in the prisons, as good public health practice suggests.
Charlie Rosenberg
Milwaukee