Opposition anger over inmates receiving COVID vaccinations sparks backlash
Posted January 6, 2021 11:51 am.
Conservatives are slamming a plan to have a limited number of inmates in federal prisons vaccinated against COVID-19 beginning this week.
However, their anger is sparking backlash from prisoner rights advocates.
The union for correctional officers says up to 600 inmates will start receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, with the priority going to the most vulnerable, sick and elderly prisoners.
But this has angered Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole who took to twitter to say not one criminal should be vaccinated ahead of any vulnerable Canadian or frontline health care worker.
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Criminal defence lawyer, Alison Craig, who has fought many prisoner right cases, claims this argument is ignorant and shallow, noting prisons have been hotspots for outbreaks and inmates are at high risk.
“When you’re in jail, you can’t socially distance, there’s simply no way to protect people,” Craig says.
She also notes this is about safety for communities surrounding prisons, since COVID outbreaks in prisons have contributed to overwhelming hospitals and puts prison guards at risk.
