Almost 50,000 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed across California’s prison system since last year.
Today, the number of active cases is around 20.
"Sadly, the biggest explanation for this is actually herd immunity - meaning so many people have already gotten COVID that they now have natural immunity and are not getting it again - at least right now," UCSF’s Dr. Leah Rorvig told KCBS Radio's "As Prescribed" on Thursday.
"Of course, the other thing that has driven numbers way down is the beginning of vaccination," she added.
Dr. Rorvig is Director of Health Education at Amend at UCSF, a program that focuses on changing correctional culture.
She said there are not extensive official data on vaccine take-up within California prisons.
"We know that among people who are at high risk of getting seriously sick from COVID-19…people who are older, people who have serious medical conditions…90% of those people have been taking the vaccine," she said.
Those data are from mid-March and Dr Rorvig explained they also show that among younger incarcerated people, the uptake is closer to 65%.
Her group is working on getting information about vaccine safety and efficacy into prisons through printed fact-sheets and answers to FAQs. One common question in places where there have been massive outbreaks is whether people who have been infected with COVID-19 should get vaccinated.
"Of course, the answer is yes," said Dr. Rorvig. "We are recommending that everybody gets vaccinated who’s offered the vaccine. And that is because we think that the vaccine - even if you’ve already been infected - we think that the vaccine will give you longer-lasting immunity than infection alone."
With COVID-19 case numbers way down in prisons, visits - with restrictions - will open for the first time in over a year on April 10.
"Opening up visitation is absolutely a critical next piece of improving the health of people who live in prisons, because being in touch with your family and your loved ones - what could be more important for your overall health than that?" said Dr. Rorving.
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