Inmates at Pueblo County Jail offered COVID-19 vaccine

PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- A joint effort between FEMA, the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, and the County Health Department allowed jail inmates to receive the COVID vaccine this week.

Wednesday, 156 inmates at the Pueblo County Jail received a vaccine. That's roughly a third of those currently jailed. The vaccine was voluntary.

The Sheriff's Office says because there is constant inmate turnover, deputies plan to host more vaccine clinics in the future.

There was a COVID-19 outbreak at the Pueblo County Jail in late October. While the jail continues to be an outbreak facility, officials have since reported a steady decline in cases since then due to increased screening, use of face masks, and sanitizing efforts.

The vaccine has also been made available to all Sheriff's Office employees.