Prisoners at Korinda prison have received the COVID-19 vaccine in a programme initiated by the Kenya Red Cross Society in conjunction with the Busia County health department.
According to County Prisons Commander Omondi Adero, 451 male and 31 female inmates benefitted from the session.
“The vaccination of the inmates will strengthen efforts towards the management of COVID-19, as well as allow the reintroduction of prison visits that were suspended in March 2020,” the officer in charge of the facility said.
The convicts called upon the government to review re-opening the prisons.
Meanwhile, Busia County Coordinator for Expanded Programme on Immunization Juliet Kilima pointed out that they target to vaccinate a total of 150,000 people by the end of December.
“We appreciate efforts by the media and partners, including the Centre for International Health Education and Biosecurity, who have worked closely with the health department to encourage locals to come out for the COVID-19 jab. If people are vaccinated, they will get herd immunity making it possible for the government to open up the economy,” she said.
Kilima urged residents to turn out in large numbers and get vaccinated at various vaccination sites across the county.
So far, 30,000 residents have been double jabbed.
By Everlyne Bosibori
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