Oregon Governor Kate Brown speaks to the press. (Photo by Scott Olson / Getty Images)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED at 6:45 pm PT – Thursday, February 4, 2021
A federal judge in Oregon issued a controversial decision to provide COVID vaccines to prisoners before seniors and teachers. In a recent ruling, U.S. Judge Stacie Beckerman supported the Oregon Justice Resource Center in its class action lawsuit, which claimed that prisoners are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.
The lawsuit cited the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishments for prisoners. The judge ordered the prisoners to be included in ‘Phase 1A’ of the COVID vaccine distribution plan in Oregon. Governor Katie Brown (D-Ore.) Said the state will not appeal the decision.
A hearing took place today after our motion asking the court to force the Oregon DOC to offer vaccination to anyone in custody who wants it: AND IT WAS JUST GIVEN! It will be a great relief for so many people and their loved ones. #COVID-19 #orpol pic.twitter.com/pi4uBeJAzK
– Oregon Justice Resource Center (@OJRCenter) February 3, 2021
“More than 50% of people are living in dormitories at DOC,” said Oregon Justice Resource Center director Juan Chavez. “This is a recipe for the spread of disease.”
The COVID Prison Project reported 3,400 cases of coronavirus and more than 40 deaths among Oregon prisoners.
Child care providers and teachers are currently eligible to receive vaccines, while seniors over 80 must wait until February 8.