By Tim Mastro

DOVER — As the number of inmates with active COVID-19 infection remains in the single digits statewide, the Delaware Department of Correction projected Wednesday that half of the prison population will have access to a COVID-19 vaccination within the next week.

Through Thursday, 649 inmates and 1,265 DOC officers, staff and health care professionals have received at least a first COVID-19 vaccine dose, according to the DOC.

The DOC began vaccinating officers and inmates in January, soon after the Food and Drug Administration granted its first emergency-use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines. As directed by the state’s distribution plan, vaccines were initially given to officers and health care staff who are in daily contact with inmates and to the most vulnerable inmates — those over age 60 with significant chronic health conditions.

Deliveries of vaccines to the DOC have steadily increased. This week alone, DOC has received 1,200 doses earmarked for inmates, which are being administered across every state prison and community corrections facility. Additional doses will be made available to the DOC to meet inmate and officer vaccination demand.

“DOC’s goal is to vaccinate 80% of the incarcerated individuals by June,” said DOC Commissioner Claire DeMatteis. “DOC and our Centurion health care partners first focused on vaccinating all inmates over 60 years old, and with our educational efforts, only 18% of this older incarcerated population declined the vaccine.”

As vaccinations have expanded to a broader and younger inmate population, Ms. DeMatteis said DOC has implemented a multistep effort to educate inmates that the lifesaving vaccines are safe, rigorously tested and present minimal side effects. DOC is providing inmates with information about the vaccine through several channels, including:

• Posting informational flyers in all housing units in English and Spanish.
• Showing recorded public service announcements from respected physicians and community leaders of color to address reluctance of some inmates to get vaccinated and to drive high rates of vaccination across racial, ethnic and demographic groups.
• Facilitating conversational face-to-face patient education by correctional medical staff to provide inmates with details about vaccine safety and effectiveness, share the importance of getting vaccinated and answer their questions.

In January, the DOC established incentives to encourage inmates to receive the vaccine, including additional good-time credit, free commissary items, free video visitation time and priority registration for in-person visitation. 

Additionally, the DOC has partnered with community health providers to schedule second-dose vaccination appointments for detentioners and sentenced inmates who are released after receiving a first dose in DOC custody.

Correctional officers, probation officers, health care workers and staff who have not already registered to receive a COVID-19 vaccine have ongoing access to DOC vaccine clinics and community clinics for first responders and law enforcement officers, as well as individually through vaccination events and provider sites that serve the general public.