On Sunday, the Department of Correctional Services announced that it is ready to start the vaccination of all of its 139 828 inmates. More than 500 inmates who are over the age of 60 years have already received their jabs.
Inmates vaccination set to kick off: What we know
According to The Witness, the department has also vaccinated 797 of its healthcare professionals, and 90 additional officials who are over the age of 60 years.
“We remain committed to ensuring that inmates receive their Covid-19 vaccinations in order to achieve population immunity in correctional facilities,” the DCS statement said.
The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, said that the department ensures that the inmates are confined under humane conditions — and that means that they also have to be provided with primary healthcare services.
Social media reacts to hackered vaccine rollout
The public has expressed on social media that they are not impressed with this move because the majority of South Africans have not received the vaccination yet — law-abiding citizens, that is, and even students.
These were some of the reactions of disgruntled South Africans we picked out from social media:
I’m gonna need to understand why inmates are gonna receive vaccines before us law abiding citizens? I’m so confused.
— mamncane. (@Kim_Khandashisa) June 27, 2021
What confuses me is how inmates in correctional facilities are getting vaccinated before people actually outside?
— Meowceps (@Meowceps) June 28, 2021
Free bed, free roof, free meal and even throw in a vaccine
HOW? Sikhona thina we use public transport to work and have underlying conditions… nileqe inmates????? INMATES no wonder they’d say kumnandi inside shame https://t.co/zb1DyDmI91
— MaZotsho✨ (@Zinzi_Skele) June 28, 2021
Why is SAPS members not being vaccinated before the inmates… surely their service should be more important?
— Jeanne De Villiers (@jdevilliers) June 27, 2021