THE SunTeam was at the Krugersdorp Correctional Services to witness prisoners lining up for their Covid-19 jabs.
The Department of Correctional Services is well on course with the vaccination of inmates under Phase 2 of the roll-out programme.
Priority is being given to those who are 60 years and above.
According to Correctional Services spokesman Singabakho Nxumalo, they had to submit a list of inmates to the health department, indicating their age categories because offenders can’t register online.
“This has assisted the department in distributing the required number of jabs to respective correctional facilities.
“Krugersdorp centre is one such facility, and this was witnessed yesterday as 18 inmates received the jabs,” said Nxumalo.
The 18 inmates, all dressed in orange overalls and masks, looked calm as they queued for the life-saving jab.
One by one, they got the jab, got up, thanked the nurse and went back to their cells.
Nxumalo said though last year was very challenging, the department managed to put up a serious fight in preventing the spread.
“We are reinforcing our prevention measures in the current year in order to ensure that we can protect as many people as possible,” he said.
“Phase 2 of the vaccination programme is a huge step forward in bringing this pandemic under control.”
Nxumalo said they appreciated the tremendous dedication their officials had shown in the face of a relentless pandemic.
“What we now know is that vaccination is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases.
“As front-line agents in our environment, our essential role is to protect the health and well-being of the inmates,” he added.
