Despite a push from experts to have migrants in custody vaccinated against the flu, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has no plans to do so, the Washington Examiner is reporting.
"As a law enforcement agency, and due to the short term nature of CBP holding and logistical challenges, operating a vaccine program is not feasible," the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement to the Examiner. "Both ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and HHS (Health and Human Services) have comprehensive medical support services and can provide vaccinations as appropriate to those in their custody."
Meanwhile, some of the top infectious disease experts said the government has a responsibility to provide preventative care, according to the Examiner.
And some point to recent autopsies showing three of the six deaths of children who were in or had passed through CBP custody died from the flu. However, it is unclear at what point they came down with the flu and whether a flu shot would have prevented their deaths, according to the Examiner.
CNBC reported the U.S. had previously gone nearly a decade without any children dying while in U.S. immigration custody.
"The introduction of the influenza vaccine and other vaccines … is something we need to start thinking about from day one when these people come into our responsibility," Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, told the Examiner.
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