No doses for prisoners, ‘disaster must’ if infection spreads

The country has kicked off a nationwide mass vaccination drive to inoculate the citizens over 25 years. Even the forcibly evicted Rohynga people are also getting the shot.

But, the authorities are yet to pay heed to the prison. The health ministry, hitherto, has no decision to launch the jab for prisoners.

If the infection spreads in jail it will lead to a disaster, custody officials fear.  

“We are trying to prevent the virus. We are checking all the inmates regularly. If symptoms prevail to anyone we are sending them to isolation or quarantine centres. But, if the infection increases it will be disastrous,” said Additional IG (Prison) Colonel Abrar Hossain while talking to The Report.

If the infection starts spreading it is likely to go beyond control. Vaccine is like an assurance, Abrar Hossain thinks.

Custodial sources said, an application to immunize inmates was submitted to Surokkha department on March 4 this year. It was later forwarded to the health ministry.

During a recent programme in the capital health department DG Khurshid Alam said, they have no plan yet to vaccinate prisoners as there is hardly any risk of contamination.

Considering the pandemic situation in the country and scarcity of doses the prisoners are not included in the priority list, he said.

Asked on the issue additional DG Mirjadee Sabrina Flora said, no decision in principle has been taken yet to launch the vaccination drive in jail.

As many as 78 thousand inmates are now in 68 prisons across the country.

Prison sources say, in numbers of cases prison staffs are ahead of the prisoners.