Eligible inmates begin to receive COVID-19 shots

The Travis County Jail began administering the COVID-19 vaccine to qualifying inmates last week, the county sheriff ’s office said Monday.

Forty inmates were vaccinated Friday and more were expected to receive the vaccine on Monday, according to a news release.

The inmates being vaccinated qualify for innoculation under phase 1B of the state’s distribution plan, which includes people who are 65 or older and those 16 and older who have a chronic medical condition that puts them at higher risk of severe illness from the coronavirus.

In the last two weeks, 57 inmates and 10 sheriff ’s office employees tested positive for COVID-19, the news release said.

Five inmates are currently in the jail’s quarantine unit for people who have tested positive for the coronavirus.