COVID-19 update for offenders and their families: September 10, 2021

This content is a message to federal offenders and their families from Correctional Service Canada's (CSC’s) Commissioner.

I wanted to give you a vaccination update. Over 74% of inmates all fully vaccinated with two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. This is good news. Thank you for rolling up your sleeves and helping protect yourself and others from this virus. Remember that it is not too late to get the vaccine if you have not already.

Vaccines are safe and highly effective. We continue to face more transmissible and more dangerous variants of concern, including the Delta variant, which is currently driving the beginning of a fourth wave of infections. Yet, since the start of Canada’s vaccination campaign, only 1.5% of COVID-19 cases have been among those who were fully protected by the vaccine.

Layers of protection remain important.

This is why public health advises to not only get vaccinated, but also:

• continue wearing a mask,
• washing your hands often, and
• maintaining a physical distance of two metres from others.

September 15 is International Day of Democracy, which provides an opportunity to reflect on the state of democracy around the world.

The values of:

• freedom,
• respect for human rights, and
• the principle of holding free and open elections,

are essential elements of democracy. 

Thank you to all of those who voted in the federal election on September 8^th in our institutions across the country! You participated in a very important part of our country’s democracy. It is important to take a moment to recognize and appreciate that we live in a country where our democratic rights are recognized and upheld.

I know this past year and a half has been difficult, but your willingness to adapt to the many changes is appreciated. Thank you for keeping up with our measures. We all play an important role in helping to minimize the impact of the pandemic and in making efforts to rise above the challenges it continues to present. Thank you for your ongoing collaboration.