COVID-19 vaccine in Detention Facility

MEDIA RELEASE                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:                                                APRIL 26, 2021

AGENCY:                                          SEDGWICK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

LOCATION:                                       WICHITA/SEDGWICK COUNTY, KANSAS

TELEPHONE :                                  (316) 660-3900

CONTACT :                                       COLONEL JARED SCHECHTER

     

Last week starting on April 20, 2021, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office began the four day process of offering the COVID-19 vaccine to every inmate in the Sheriff’s Office Detention Facilities.   The onsite medical provider’s staff, along with staff from the Sedgwick County Health Department went to every inmate housing unit to educate the inmates on the COVID-19 vaccine and administer the vaccine to those inmates who wanted to be vaccinated.

 

Approximately 1,150 inmates were offered the first shot of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and 418 inmates accepted the vaccine, for a vaccination rate of 36%. The onsite medical provider will assist in scheduling and administering the second Moderna shot to the inmates, as needed.

 

Going forward all inmates booked into the Detention Facility will have the opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, if they have not already been vaccinated.    

 

As of this time incoming inmates are still being placed in quarantine areas before moving to general population. Based on COVID screenings and/or reports of symptoms, inmates are tested by the medical provider. If necessary, these tested inmates are medically isolated as determined by the medical provider.

M – O – R - E

We are continuing to maintain sanitization standards to take care of our staff and inmates which include issuing extra soap, and having disinfectant available as needed. All staff members have been issued masks to wear, and all inmates have been issued face coverings for approximately the last year. We also have a full medical staff on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

There are currently no known positive cases in the Detention Facility.

 

The safety and health of our staff, community and inmates is paramount.

 

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