The COVID-19 Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine will be given to Prison Officers from today (16) onwards, Prison Media Spokesman Commissioner Chandana Ekanayake said.
Under the first stage, the vaccine will be given to nearly 5,100 officers of all the prisons in the Western Province. Officers of the Prisons in other areas will be vaccinated thereafter, Ekanayake said.The vaccination of prison officers has been prioritized considering the risk they are facing while engaging in their duties and travelling by public transport.
“The COVID-19 prison cluster had increased to 4,700 by yesterday,” he added.