San Diego County Sheriff’s Department healthcare workers receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Photo: San Diego County Sheriff’s Department

SAN DIEGO–A select number of nurses who work in San Diego County Sheriff’s Department jails are now certified to administer the vaccine for covid-19 testing

The 40 Sheriff’s healthcare workers received the Moderna coronavirus vaccine in Kearny Mesa Friday.

This is the second round of nurses receiving the first dose of the vaccine. They also received training from the County Health and Human Services Agency on inoculations. The health agency provided the vaccines.

This core group of nurses will in turn vaccinate other medical personnel currently authorized to receive the shots. Under federal, state and county guidelines, health workers are among the first recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination clinics for medical workers in county jails are scheduled to continue next week.

The vaccination plan consists of different phases. Front-line workers who are at greater risk of contracting the virus due to the nature of their job in providing critical public safety services are next in line. Deputies and civilian employees will be vaccinated as their tier is authorized.

Vaccinations for inmates will occur in accordance with the tiers or phases of the federal, state, and county distribution plan.