Morung Express news
Kohima | June 10
246 out of 447 jail inmates in Nagaland have been vaccinated so far during the 1st COVID-19 vaccination drive conducted in the Central and District jails which commenced on May 28.
As far as the response rate among jail inmates in the State is concerned and while the vaccination drive is rolled out on voluntary basis, Additional DG (Prisons) Renchamo P Kikon informed The Morung Express that the drive which concluded on June 3 last covered 55% of the inmates.
While only over half of the prisoners have been covered during the drive, an underlying reason, the ADG (Prisons) cited, was because “some among the prisoners are Under Trial Prisoners (UTP) and by the time it is due for them to get the 2nd dose, they might move out or shift.
For those who have been vaccinated, he added that they will reach out and ensure that the 2nd dose of vaccination is completed.
On whether a 2nd vaccination drive will be undertaken, he added that “Also since the number of inmates keeps fluctuating, it will be depending on the number of inmates who have not been vaccinated at all or in case of substantial number of inmates requiring vaccination arises, the matter will accordingly be taken up with the government, to make some provisions and arrangement to look into the need.”
It may be mentioned that vaccination drive in jails is being held on voluntary basis after awareness and sensitization programme with the inmates.