Qualifying inmates at Peterborough jail receive coronavirus vaccine

Earlier this year it was reported there had been no coronavirus cases recorded at the privately run jail - the only prison in the country with both a male and female wing.

However, the report also criticised the jail for some of the measures it was taking to protect prisoners from the virus - Inspectors found 'many prisoners had only around 90 minutes a day out of cells. The published regime set out 30 minutes a day out of cell for prisoners to complete domestic tasks and to shower, with a further 45 minutes outside in the open air.'

MORE: No inmates at HMP Peterborough test positive for COVID since March - but jail criticised for slow easing of virus measures

Today, David Smart, Acting Director at HMP Peterborough, said: “We have successfully vaccinated prisoners who qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine, in line with government guidelines.

"We continue to follow procedure to ensure the safety of all those who live and work in HMP Peterborough.”

At the moment vaccines have been offered to residents across the country who are aged 70 and over, and front line health and social care workers.

Thousands of people across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have received the vaccine already, with the rate of people aged 70 and over receiving their first jab well above the national average. People who are clinically extremely vulnerable have also been offered the jab.

MORE: Peterborough and Cambridgeshire COVID vaccination programme well above national average as tens of thousands of elderly residents get jab

The government's priority list for the vaccine is:

1 Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults

2 All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers

3 All those 75 years of age and over

4 All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals (not including pregnant women and those under 16 years of age)

5 All those 65 years of age and over

6 Adults aged 16 to 65 years in an at-risk group (see clinical conditions below)

7 All those 60 years of age and over

8 All those 55 years of age and over

9 All those 50 years of age and over

10 Rest of the population (to be determined)