Agency starts offering COVID-19 vaccine to corrections officers

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PHOENIX - Arizona prison officials started offering COVID-19 vaccinations on Jan. 15 to corrections officers at the Perryville prison in Goodyear, with other prisons to follow in the future.

State corrections officers can get vaccinated through either the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry or through the counties where they live. Some counties have already made vaccines available to officers.

Centurion of Arizona, the company that provides health care for state prisoners, also has received vaccines and plans to begin offering them to its employees on Monday at the Perryville prison, though many of Centurion’s providers have already received it, officials said.

It’s unknown exactly when vaccines will be offered to the 37,000 state prisoners. Corrections officials say the timeline for inmate vaccinations depends on the amount of vaccines the department receives and when it gets them.

In county jails across Arizona, several sheriff’s offices said they have already begun offering the vaccine to jail officers. It’s unknown exactly when county jail inmates will get vaccinations.

Arizona remains the state with the worst COVID-19 diagnosis rate, with 1 of every 111 residents being diagnosed with COVID-19 over the past week.

Coronavirus in Arizona - Latest case numbers for 1/15/21

FOX 10's Troy Hayden breaks down the latest COVID-19 data as the state department of health services reports 9,146 new cases and 185 additional deaths.

Officials on Friday reported 9,146 additional cases across the state and 185 additional deaths, increasing the state’s totals to 658,186 cases and 11,040 deaths. Arizona’s death toll exceeded 11,000 just six days after passing 10,000.

There were 4,866 hospitalized COVID-19 patients occupying inpatient beds statewide, down from Monday’s pandemic-high of 5,082.

State prisons and some county jails in Arizona have been hard hit by the virus.

In all, more than 8,400 inmates in Arizona’s prisons have tested positive for the virus during the pandemic, leading to 28 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and another 16 deaths suspected to have been caused by the virus. One in five inmates in state prisons has tested positive for the virus at one time.

Nearly 2,200 people who work in state prisons also have tested positive. Corrections officials declined to say whether any staff members have died from the virus, and leaders of the unions representing state corrections officers didn’t respond to requests for comment.

In county jails across Arizona, more than 2,800 inmates and 700 employees have tested positive since last spring. No inmates are known to have died from the virus while in county jails. A Maricopa County jail officer and a Camp Verde Detention Center employee in Yavapai County died from the virus.

Earlier in the pandemic, state corrections officials were harshly criticized for not providing masks to inmates and for a scarcity of virus tests. Inmates were given masks in July, and for the second time authorities are planning to start an effort Tuesday to test all inmates in state prisons for the virus. The corrections department has repeatedly said its top priority is keeping staff, inmates and communities near prisons safe from the virus.

Advocates for inmates had accused corrections officials of neglecting prisoners and called for incarcerated people from around the state to be released to try to control the spread of the virus behind bars.

Gov. Doug Ducey rejected the calls for the early release of some state inmates. Last year, at least 300 non-violent inmates were released from county jails across Arizona, though about half of Arizona’s counties didn’t release inmates as a virus prevention measure.

Corene Kendrick, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney who represents thousands of inmates in a nearly 9-year-old lawsuit challenging the quality of health care in Arizona’s prisons, said the lack of social distancing and inadequate medical services for prisoners still make them "sitting ducks" for the virus.

Kendrick said vaccinating prisoners and corrections employees will help protect the public, noting that people who work in prisons could end up bringing the virus into prisons or transmitting into their communities after they knock off work. "They are bringing it to their families and grocery stores," Kendrick said. "We are all interconnected."

The first inmates who will be offered vaccinations are those who are 75 or older, followed by inmates who have high-risk medical conditions. Vaccinations will be offered to the remainder of state prisoners during phase 1C, which counties are expected to reach by late February or early March.

Lillian Coppess, leader of an advocacy group consisting of the loved ones of incarcerated people in Arizona, said she is concerned about prisoners declining to get vaccinated based on a false belief that the government is using them for medical experiments.

"Sometimes, their family members tell them not to take it," Coppess said.

Corrections officials say employees and inmates aren’t required to take the vaccine, but they are encouraging them to do so.

Associated Press writer Paul Davenport in Phoenix contributed to this report.

Financial tips for the COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic is impacting everyone differently. Here are some helpful tips to keep you financially stable during this difficult time.

In order to protect yourself from a possible infection, the CDC recommends:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Monitor your health daily

MAP: Worldwide interactive Coronavirus case data

MAP: Arizona Coronavirus cases by zip code

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CDC: How coronavirus spreads, symptoms, prevention, treatment, FAQ

Arizona COVID-19 resources, FAQ: azdhs.gov/coronavirus

On CoronavirusNOW.com, you'll find extensive coverage about COVID-19, including breaking news from around the country, exclusive interviews with health officials, and informative content from a variety of public health resources.

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Coronavirus in Arizona: Latest case numbers
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How coronavirus differs from flu: Symptoms to watch for

Symptoms for coronavirus COVID-19 include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. These, of course, are similar to the common cold and flu.

Expect a common cold to start out with a sore or scratchy throat, cough, runny and/or stuffy nose. Flu symptoms are more intense and usually come on suddenly, and can include a high fever.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear more slowly. They usually include fever, a dry cough and noticeable shortness of breath, according to the World Health Organization. A minority of cases develop pneumonia, and the disease is especially worrisome for the elderly and those with other medical problems such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes or heart conditions.

To protect yourself, wash your hands well and often, keep them away from your face, and avoid crowds and standing close to people.

And if you do find yourself showing any of these flu or coronavirus symptoms - don't go straight to your doctor's office. That just risks making more people sick, officials urge. Call ahead, and ask if you need to be seen and where.

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