The union representing Corrective Services NSW staff is calling for inmates in all jails across the state to face mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations, after prison officers were this week told they would have to be fully vaccinated by early next year.
Acting Commissioner Kevin Corcoran on Tuesday told staff at the state's correctional facilities - including at the Cessnock and Upper Hunter sites - they were required to have had their first COVID-19 vaccination by October 30 and their second jab by the end of January.
The Public Service Association said on Friday its members agreed that the vaccination mandate was a good idea, but they also wanted inmates to face the same requirement.
The union said in a statement inmates should be subject to the same restrictions as those free in the community who do not take-up vaccination against coronavirus.
"Mandatory vaccinations just for prison officers is a job half done," Public Service Association general secretary Stewart Little said.
"To keep NSW jails safe from COVID-19 everyone in the justice system needs to be vaccinated, no excuses."
The union has written to Corrections Minister Anthony Roberts.
"Right now in NSW you can't go on a picnic with your mate unless you're fully vaccinated. It's looking likely you won't be able to go to the footy, get your hair done, or share a drink with friends at the pub without proof of your vaccination," Mr Little said.
"Inside NSW jails though, despite it being one of the highest risk settings you can think of, there is no distinction between vaccinated and unvaccinated inmates."
The union wants unvaccinated inmates to be offered a jab as soon as they enter custody, with refusal leading to restrictions to visitation, access to workshops and minimum security.
"There are some 30,000 people in the justice system currently. The public need to understand the population is always fluctuating and can be quite transient - for any one person in prison there's another on remand or out on bail," Mr Little said.
"Getting people in the criminal justice system jabbed ... means those who might have done their time and then head home into a regional community will be vaccinated."
