Just like in the general population, plenty of people in custody in Montana are choosing not to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
Thatâs the case even though jails and prisons hold people in communal living situations, making it easier for the virus to spread, and in general see more chronic health conditions. Jail and prison inmates have higher rates of hypertension, asthma, cervical cancer and hepatitis than the general population, according to a 2009 article in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.Â
The Montana Department of Corrections is seeing roughly a 50% vaccination refusal rate, according to spokeswoman Alexandria Klapmeier.
So far, 1,405 inmates across the stateâs prisons have been fully vaccinated, data provided by the department shows. That includes:
Cascade County Commissioners moved to approve a contract between the county and Alluvion Health to provide inmate medical services, mental health care and treatment program services during their meeting Tuesday morning.
Alluvion Health was one of three healthcare providers, including Planned Parenthood and Correctional Health Partners, to respond to the Sheriff Office’s request for proposal after Planned Parenthood let the CCSO know they would no longer be able to fulfill their inmate medical services contract in January, per Undersheriff Cory Reeves.
The cost of the first year of services from Alluvion Health is $1.57 million, the most cost effective of the three options, Reeves said during the county commission work session last week. The contract term is four years and is effective starting July 1. Planned Parenthood offered $2.1 million and Correctional Health Partners offered $2.4 million.
The Garfield County Sheriff s Office and detention center in Glenwood Springs.
The Garfield County Sheriff’s office and detention facility in Glenwood Springs is closed to the public temporarily after nearly two-dozen inmates and employees tested positive for COVID-19, a news release states.
As of Thursday evening, “(four) detentions staff members and 17 inmates have tested positive,” the sheriff’s office release states. “Those inmates were all housed within the same pod/area in the jail and are now in quarantine; separate from other inmates and staff.”
Out of the 17 infected inmates, five are currently experiencing “low-grade symptoms and being cared for in-house by Correctional Health Partners.”