Modderbee Correctional Facility vaccination drive gets off to a good start
Since they started, the nursing staff at Modderbee have been vaccinating approximately 300 inmates per day with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which only requires a single dose.
The drive to vaccinate inmates at Modderbee Correctional Services has started, and so far has been going well.
Acting area commissioner Moipone Makhetha said the drive started on July 21, a day after the programme to vaccinate inmates around the country was launched by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, at the Johannesburg Prison.
The nursing staff at Modderbee have been vaccinating approximately 300 inmates per day with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which only requires a single dose.
“It is not compulsory to get the vaccine, but it is encouraged. Through our partnerships without stakeholders such as the Department of Health, we have been keeping abreast of all the developments around Covid-19,” said Makhetha.
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“We have also educated our inmates and personnel around vaccines and the benefits of receiving it. The attitude of the inmates towards the vaccine has been positive and many are willing to participate because it is for their health.
“Additionally, we implemented our risk-mitigating strategies and have deep-cleansed the facility. We have raised awareness around Covid-19 and the importance of washing hands, sanitising, wearing masks and we encouraged them to bath.”
She said she led by example and received her vaccine as soon as she was eligible. Makheta said she was relieved to get the vaccine and said it was imperative that inmates and personnel are vaccinated against Covid-19 as they work in a confined space and an outbreak would spread to the wider community.
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So far the facility has a low mortality rate and it has mostly been the staff at the facility that have been affected more than the inmates.
There are additional measures the facility has taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the facility, such as implementing non-contact visits.
Furthermore, before detainees are booked into the facility, they are screened for Covid-19 and if they show any symptoms are isolated and kept away from the other awaiting trial prisoners.
One of the inmates who received his vaccine last week was Pule Mokgadinyane, who said he was nervous about getting the jab.
“I’ve been waiting for it and although it was painful, it was okay. Hopefully, I’ll live long after this,” said Mokgadinyane.
