As the arrival of the first COVID vaccines approaches, a political backlash has been brewing over the idea that inoculating people behind bars should be a priority. Colorado's plan in particular has come under fire from right-wing critics. "Polis would give the life-saving vaccine to a person who puts a loaded gun to grandma's head, before he would give it to grandma," a Republican district attorney wrote in the
Denver Post. "Killers and rapists set to get COVID vaccines before Granny," a recent
Fox News segment announced.
This pushback seems to have spooked Polis. Asked about the
Denver Post column at this week's press conference, the Democratic governor said Colorado's public health department will deprioritize prisoners when it finalizes its vaccination plan. (Prisoners over 65, however, would likely be vaccinated around the same time as free adults of the same age.)