Mumbai, July 2: In another headache for prison authorities handling COVID-19 outbreak, 20 inmates lodged at Arthur Road prison have refused to take even the first dose of vaccination.
At Arthur Road prison, of the 2953 inmates present 2900 inmates have received at least the first dose of vaccination. Of the 53 left, 24 have tested positive for COVID-19, 9 inmates are unfit at the moment while 20 have refused to take the jab citing one reason or the another, said jail officials.
"More than 150 inmates including Nigerian nationals, and fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim close aide like Farooq Takla were not ready to take it. We counselled and explained to them the importance of vaccination. We told them that COVIDSHIELD was being given to them, and it would also help their families if they were to get bail,” said a jail officer.
NB. Vayachal, superintendent of Mumbai Central Jail said, "Around 74 inmates had also taken the second dose of vaccination. We request the BMC authorities to provide us the second dose on time, so that the second dose of vaccination is received on time to all inmates," he added.
Meanwhile, 425 inmates which includes 125 males inmates at Byculla jail also received their first dose of vaccination. As per the data released by Maharashtra prison on June 30, among the 33, 623 inmates across 46 central and district jails of Maharashtra. Around 14256 under trial inmates and 3595 convicts counting a total of 17,851 inmates are vaccinated across Maharashtra jails.
