More Than Half Of Mass. Corrections Workers Have Refused COVID Vaccine

Feb 8, 2021
WGBH
By Jenifer B. McKim

More than half of workers in the state’s Department of Correction— about 3,000 — have refused a coronavirus vaccine, according to state data.

The workers are part of the more than 5,400 correctional personnel and contracted healthcare staff employed across the state prison system.

Corrections officials say some of the employees may have been vaccinated elsewhere and that the department is working to educate employees about the benefits of the vaccine.

But prisoners advocates say the significant number of refusals reflect a weaknesses in a system that has contributed to the deaths of at least 19 people in the state’s prisons, with a population of about 6,500.

Another two people have died in the county jails, which house another 6,000 people waiting for trial or sentenced to shorter amounts of time.