Journal of Correctional Health Care - April 2023 - 150

Journal of Correctional Health Care
Volume 29, Number 2, 2023
ª The Author(s) 2023
DOI: 10.1089/jchc.21.12.0133
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Corrections Officers' and Sheriffs' Perceptions
of COVID-19 Vaccine Operationalization
Christina Kraus, BS,1 Rubeen Guardado, MPH,2 and Alysse G. Wurcel, MD2*
Abstract
Justice-involved populations are at an elevated risk for infectious disease transmission and have been profoundly
negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination is being utilized as a primary tool for
prevention and protection from serious infection in carceral settings. We examined the barriers and facilitators
to vaccine distribution by surveying key stakeholders-sheriffs and corrections officers-in these
settings. Most respondents felt prepared for rollout, although they still identified significant barriers to operationalization
of vaccine distribution. Barriers ranked highest by stakeholders were vaccine hesitancy and
problems related to deficits in communication and planning. There is enormous opportunity to install practices
that will address the significant barriers being faced to efficient vaccine distribution and amplify existing
facilitators. These could include, for example, the incorporation of in-person community communication
models for discussion of the vaccine (and hesitancy) in carceral facilities.
Keywords: infectious disease, carceral health, vaccine, COVID-19, vaccine hesitancy
Introduction
Jails and prisons are epicenters of infectious disease transmission
(Dumont et al., 2012). Despite continued improvements
in testing policies and protocols in carceral
settings and reduced capacity, COVID-19 outbreaks in
jails and prisons continued to be reported through November
2021, with certain outbreaks infecting upward of 50%
of residents (Associated Press, 2021; Lewis et al., 2021;
Ward et al., 2021). A multitude of intersecting factors, including
overcrowding, lack of ventilation, and inability to
social distance, synergize in carceral settings to facilitate
transmission of respiratory viruses. COVID-19 cases in
jails and prisons were >5 times higher compared to the
general public, and the death rate in jails and prisons
was 3 times as high (Saloner et al., 2020).
People who work in prisons, including but not limited
to health care workers (HCWs) and correctional officers,
are also at increased risk of COVID-19 infection, with an
estimated 3.2 times higher risk than their community
members (Ward et al., 2021). People who are incarcerated
and people who work at jails and prisons can spread
infections to surrounding communities, further adding
fuel to the fire of the pandemic (Barsky et al., 2021).
Layered on top of decarceration and increased testing,
broad vaccination will decrease transmission, illness, and
death from COVID-19 (Barsky et al., 2021). Prioritization
schemes have largely been used by states as part of
an equitable and efficient vaccine rollout, with several
states prioritizing HCWs, people who work in jails, and
people incarcerated in jails before other populations.
1Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
2Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
*Address correspondence to: Alysse G. Wurcel, MD, Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington
Street, Boston, MA 02111, USA, Email: awurcel@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
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Journal of Correctional Health Care - April 2023

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