Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne (Open VLD) wants prison staff to be vaccinated against the corona virus as a priority. The unions already submitted a strike notice earlier Friday to obtain it. The issue will be discussed on Monday at the inter-ministerial consultation between the Ministers of Health.
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The wardens’ unions submitted a strike notice on Friday morning. Several prisons, including those in Hasselt, Dendermonde and Namur, were struggling or struggling with corona outbreaks, causing wings and even entire prisons to go into lockdown. Thursday also became known that a staff member of the prison of Ghent died of corona the day before.
Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne (Open VLD) understands the question from the trade unions. He too is now asking for the prison staff to be vaccinated as a matter of priority. In the first and second waves, the situation in the prisons was relatively under control. However, there are quite a few outbreaks in the third wave. The health of the staff is at stake, so it is time for us to vaccinate, ‘says Van Quickenborne.
A prison is a collective, the minister continues, many people live very close together, which makes it fundamentally different from other circumstances. According to Van Quickenborne, it is therefore necessary that prison staff get a shot against corona as soon as possible.
The prison system is also urging to start vaccinating staff and detainees as soon as possible. The issue is on the agenda of the various health ministers on Monday, who have to take the plunge.
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