Smyrna correctional center vaccinates DOC leaders, officers, and vulnerable inmates Friday

SMYRNA, Del.- Around 50 to 60 workers at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center got their COVID-19 vaccine Friday, something they say will help keep the safety of the whole facility.

The correctional center put on a vaccination clinic Friday afternoon for senior DOC leaders and officers.

“It’s a great day for the department and our continued vaccination process, for the officers, our leadership, and our inmate population,” Paul Shavack, Deputy Bureau Chief of Prisons, said.

Staff said it was their first time getting the COVID-19 vaccine, and they added being able to be transparent about their efforts to fight the pandemic is a positive thing.

“It means a lot to showcase our mitigation efforts and again this vaccine is a forced multiplier both for our officers and for our inmates, and for the public to know that we take it seriously and it’s our obligation to protect all that are involved,” Shavack said.

The Commissioner, Claire DeMatteis, said getting this vaccine is just another piece of the puzzle in their COVID-19 mitigation plan.

To not only protect the officers and inmates, but to get prisons back to their normal operations.

“So instead of doing programming virtually, or counseling through a plexiglass, we can actually get back to one on one educational programming and counseling,” DeMatteis said.

Staff members I spoke with added that on top of them getting vaccinated Friday, vulnerable inmates are also getting the opportunity, if they fall into the 1B category.

“We are starting with inmates over 60 with past medical history,” DeMatteis said.

“It’s very important as part of strategy to keep those vulnerable inmates safe from the pandemic and from the virus,” Shavack said.

We are told 400 doses of the vaccine have been given out, that includes staff and inmates.

Staff members told us that they have a vaccination schedule that they are rotating through all the facilities.

They added that encourage others to get the vaccine to keep themselves safe as well as their families moving forward.