Most inmates at Milton’s Maplehurst jail refused offer of COVID-19 vaccine

“Most inmates chose not to after lengthy discussions,” Whalen testified.

He did not elaborate in court on what information inmates were provided and how far in advance, or why inmates might have chosen not to be vaccinated.

A spokeperson for the Ministry of the Solicitor-General said Thursday that, in addition to information provided by jail health care staff, Halton Emergency Medical Services spoke to inmates about the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine, and that Halton Public Health provided fact sheets about the vaccine and common myths.

But, according to calls received by jail hotlines operated by the Toronto Prisoners’ Rights Project and Criminalization and Punishment Education Project, inmates say they aren’t getting enough reliable information to make decisions and address fears about side-effects or even whether the vaccines they are offered are the same as the ones being used in the general population.

Doctors who treat marginalized populations say there are several valid reasons incarcerated people would be wary of being vaccinated.

“During their whole lives, many people who have been incarcerated have experienced discrimination at the hands of government institutions and healthcare,” said Dr. Naheed Dosani, a palliative care physician who works with people who are homeless.

“There is a mistrust there.”

Dosani noted that inmates can’t use the internet, speak to their family doctor or easily connect with a trusted person who could answer their questions about the vaccine.

“(In jail), access to information is a privilege, even if it’s information that’s needed to save your life or protect you,” he said.

Vaccine hesitancy, which is already challenging outside prison walls, requires a compassionate approach, he added.

“We cannot be dismissive of people’s questions, which are often based around fears or anxiety, which is totally appropriate,” said Dosani, who added that the science around vaccines can be confusing, even for people who are well-informed.

Maplehurst, one of the largest jails in the province, had the worst COVID-19 outbreak in an Ontario jail with 303 linked cases, according to Halton Public Health. The outbreak declared in mid-January ended on Wednesday.

Whalen testified in court that five inmates were transported to the hospital due to COVID-19, but there had been no deaths.

The Vanier Centre for Women, adjacent to Maplehurst, has faced smaller outbreaks. There, just 80 of 200 inmates chose to get vaccinated last week, deputy superintendant Jason Mackay testified. He said that the vaccine used was Moderna’s.

It is unclear how many staff members at the two jails have been vaccinated, but they were able to be vaccinated at the jail or through a local hospital, court heard.

Both Whalen and Mackay testified there are no further plans for more inmates at either jail to be vaccinated, although inmates who got their first shot will receive their second shots at a later date.

In addition to Maplehurst and Vanier, public health units in Kenora, Fort Frances and Thunder Bay have begun vaccinations of staff and inmates at four jails earlier than the province’s vaccination schedule, likely due to the prioritization of Indigenous adults and outbreaks that have affected local communities. Jails and other high-risk congregate settings are listed as part of the next phase of the vaccination roll-out, which is expected to begin in April.

“People need information from sources they can trust in order to make what feels like a good informed decision for them,” said Dr. Claire Bodkin, a resident physician at McMaster University and prison health researcher. “I think you have a situation where the people who are detaining you are the ones saying, ‘No, this is a good idea; it’s safe to do this,’ and I just don’t think there is trust there for a lot of people.”

Bodkin noted that both Black and Indigenous people remain over-represented in jails as a result of racism and colonization, the same reasons they may lack trust in the healthcare system.

Low vaccination uptake even among some healthcare workers shows that vaccine hesitancy is a broad issue that needs to be addressed, she added.

Justin Piché, an associate professor of criminology at the University of Ottawa and member of the Criminalization and Punishment Education Project, said a transparent vaccination plan is critical to addressing vaccine hesitancy in jails. He suggests having peer support workers or public health workers with lived experience of discrimination be part of the vaccine rollout.

“I am hopeful that, if people have access to community folks that are more credible in the eyes of incarcerated people and more information from reputable sources, the willingness to take the vaccine will go up, as well,” he said.

There are around 7,000 inmates in 25 Ontario jails. According to Public Health Ontario, there have been 37 outbreaks in jails since the start of the pandemic.

There have been 1,058 inmate cases and more than 250 staff cases. Earlier this week, an 85-year-old man with COVID-19 died three weeks after being transported to hospital from the Toronto East Detention Centre, according to his lawyer.