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When Might Any Florida Inmate Receive A COVID-19 Vaccine?
By Lyric Lighty
February 16, 2021
Thomas Chambers doesn’t want to die in prison.
He’s right now serving the last 19 months of a 2018 prison sentence for robbery, and until a year ago, the 55-year-old inmate didn’t consider his life might end in the Marion Correctional Institute in Ocala. But paired with his Type 2 diabetes, the increased vulnerability to the worst outcomes from COVID-19 has him worried.
Even as the number of available vaccines increases, Florida inmates are unsure if and when they will have the opportunity to be vaccinated. Chambers said all at-risk individuals should be prioritized for the vaccine whether they’re in prison or the free world. That’s a pipe dream for now, according to information from prison officials and activists.
Feb 04, 2021 By Jim Ash Senior Editor Top Stories
After seniors, high-risk individuals, health-care workers, first responders, and school workers are protected
The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is asking Gov. Ron DeSantis not to forget private lawyers and their clients when the courts become a priority for the COVID-19 vaccine.
FACDL President Mitchell Stone urges DeSantis in a February 1 letter to prioritize “all those who participate in the criminal justice system, including all attorneys, judges and defendants.”
Stone posted the letter through the regular mail, and says it’s too early to expect a response.
The letter is also addressed to Department of Corrections Secretary Mark Inch and Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees.