Some Hamilton correctional officers ‘mistakenly’ vaccinated

Hamilton public health says a small number of Hamilton correctional officers mistakenly received COVID-19 vaccinations last week after they signed into the registration portal for health-care workers.

However, the head of the union representing correctional officers at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre said staff were truthful about where they worked and he doesn't understand the mistake or why the flow of vaccines to other officers stopped.

There was confusion and frustration over the weekend when at least a handful of correctional officers, including some who stood in line for hours thinking they were getting vaccinated, had their appointments abruptly cancelled, said Geoff Vanderdeen, president of OPSEU Local 248.

The jail is in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak with 73 confirmed cases since Feb. 15. This includes 20 staff and 53 inmates.

Health-care workers at the jail are eligible for vaccination in Phase 1 of the provincial framework. Correctional officers are eligible during Phase 2.

We are aware that in the course of sequencing the health-care workforce within the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre, there were correctional staff who signed into the health-care worker registration portal and were mistakenly given an appointment to receive a vaccine and subsequently vaccinated," said public health spokesperson James Berry.

He said public health caught the error through a regular review" of who is booking through the portal. When asked how many correctional officers got the shots, Berry would only say a small number."

But Vanderdeen said he believes staff were honest when talking with public health. He left multiple messages asking for an explanation over the weekend before getting an email Monday afternoon stating that some correctional officers signed up as health-care staff.

Other emergency service personnel are included in the Phase 1 rollout and are being vaccinated, including some police.

Vaccinations began last week for Hamilton police officers and special constables. In all, just over 400 members are expected to get their first dose by Thursday, said police spokesperson Jackie Penman.

But not all police qualify, Phase 1 includes front-line personnel who provide direct health-care services including response to triaged medical emergency calls."

For Hamilton police this includes only active-duty, front-line officers or special constables who regularly respond to medical calls, including those that require the administration of CPR and naloxone, Penman said.

Vanderdeen said he doesn't understand how correctional officers are different than police when it comes to health care and COVID-19 risks.

We fall in the same boat," he said. At any time we could respond to a medical emergency with somebody who has COVID-19."

While Ontario sets the framework, it's up to local public health units to administer the vaccine rollout.

In line with Ontario's COVID-19 vaccine ethical framework, the government is enabling local public health units to make considerations about vaccine administration based on their local circumstances," Andrew Morrison, a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Solicitor General, which oversees the jail, said in an emailed statement.

Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout in Ontario includes essential front-line workers who cannot work from home and individuals living and working in high-risk congregate settings.

Nicole O'Reilly is a Hamilton-based reporter covering crime and justice for The Spectator. Reach her via email: noreilly@thespec.com