Last Tuesday (Dec. 29), the state of New Jersey has quietly prioritized the start of vaccinations against the Chinese Communist virus for inmates and staff at New Jersey prisons, raising concerns.
According to the governor’s office and union representatives, the first limited number of vaccinations are being administered at South Woods State Prison, New Jersey’s largest prison, which houses the largest number of inmates in New Jersey.
The governor’s office said other prisons are expected to follow, depending on their readiness and the availability of vaccine.
Its spokesman, Jerrel Harvey, said in a statement, “Throughout the pandemic, the administration has been concerned about the disproportionate impact of the CCP virus on vulnerable populations, particularly those at high risk and in congregate settings.”
Vaccine distribution in New Jersey has been much slower than expected. As of Dec. 31, New Jersey had received more than 400,000 doses of vaccine distributed by the federal government, but only 265,000 doses had been delivered to hospitals and nursing homes.
There has been no fanfare from the state about prioritizing vaccine administration in prisons.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, vaccines are distributed in different priority levels. health care workers and hospital staff, as well as residents of long-term care facilities, are Priority 1 – 1A. Murphy also said last month that prison inmates and staff are Priority 1B, the second priority for receiving the vaccine.
In response to the state moving up the priority level for prison inmates and staff, state Health Department Director Judith Persichilli said it was primarily because of their congregate environment.
Harvey clarified last Thursday that prisons fit into “multiple categories,” that the CDC identifies people in prison facilities as “key populations at increased risk of acquiring or transmitting the CDC virus,” and that it is in the best interest of public health to include staff and inmates in Priority 1A.
The prioritization of vaccinations for inmates has been criticized by conservatives. New Jersey Republican Committee Chairman Michael Lavery (R) said in a statement, “It is unconscionable that Governor Murphy would prioritize the administration of vaccines to offenders in prison over the heroes of our state’s veterans homes.”
The conservative website savejersey.com criticized, “Inmates are being vaccinated at a time when thousands of long-term care facility residents and front-line health care workers are still waiting for the vaccine. New Jersey’s vaccine program in nursing homes was delayed for a full week by the holidays, and in that time, positive infections reported in nursing homes continued to accelerate.”
“Prioritizing vaccine administration for inmates is just the tip of the iceberg of many strange things going on in state government. In an effort to supposedly level the curve, the state has released thousands of inmates, many of whom are very dangerous. Released prisoners are even given priority in obtaining identification documents while ordinary citizens stand in long lines and struggle in front of the DMV!”
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