Ireland sees one of highest rates in world for vaccinations in prisons

Ireland is one of the most successful countries in the world at rolling out the Covid-19 vaccination in prisons, according to new international research.

The report, compiled by Penal Reform International and Harm Reduction International, is the first mapping of the global roll-out of vaccines in prisons. It states Ireland is one of only 20 countries worldwide – and eight countries in Europe – to have vaccinated over 80 per cent of prisoners.

As of October, many countries had prison vaccination rates of 10 per cent or less while others, such as the UK and US, have not produced enough data to determine the vaccination rate.

Uptake of vaccines within the Irish prison system has been about 84 per cent. However in some prisons it has been much lower, including in Cloverhill where by the end of November less that 50 per cent had opted to take the vaccine.

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Vaccinations were initially slow to start in Irish prisons. The report noted Ireland’s vaccination plan did not explicitly mention prisons when it was first drafted. However, by August all prisoners, numbering just under 4,000, had been offered a dose.

The report states Irish Prison Service (IPS) health officials initially found prisoners had little knowledge of various vaccines and their effects “which was leading to some apprehension”.

In response the IPS and Red Cross produced an information video which was broadcast on in-cell television.

The Irish Penal Reform Trust welcomed the findings and said Ireland's high marks are due to the efforts prison staff and Red Cross members.

However, it said the figures hide the fact that Covid restrictions within prisons “are having a severely detrimental impact on the mental health, family contact and access to rehabilitative regimes.”