Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics the state of New York will begin to vaccinate older people incarcerated in the state's prison system, officials announced February 4, hours after advocates filed a lawsuit. The move applies to those who are age 65 and older, which is consistent with the general population statewide that qualifies for the vaccine at this point. Sen. Gustavo Rivera applauded the move, pointing out the decision was prudent given that prisons have become virus hotspots. Corrections officers and staff, who come and go from the facilities, have also had high rates of infection as well. The decision is a victory for advocates who have pushed state officials to begin vaccinations, as they also seek the release of those people considered vulnerable to the virus. Theresa Grady, a community leader of the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, said providing access to the vaccine for older people is a good first step, but more needs to be done. "Because of decades of mistrust with prison health care and health care more generally in communities of color, there must be a robust plan for the State Health Department, or some other health agency that isn’t DOCCS to distribute, administer, and provide state of the art education associated with the vaccine and COVID-19." Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.