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US immigration authorities do not vaccinate migrants in influenza virus detention, and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) does not plan to do so before the outbreak season. influenza.
"In general, because of the short-term nature of CBP detention and the complexity of immunization programs, neither CBP nor its medical providers are administering vaccines to those in our custody," said The Hill a spokeswoman for the agency in a statement.
Earlier this month, two prominent Democrat House MPs wrote to CBP as well as to the Ministry of Health and Social Services, expressing concerns about the spread of influenza in detention centers after the death of at least three children in the custody of the United States, partly as a result of: the flu.
representatives Rosa DeLauro
Rosa Luisa DeLauroLawmakers highlight rights when asked questions about deficits Bill would make World Cup funds subordinate to equal pay Trump faces new impact on deficit MORE (D-Conn.) And Lucille Roybal-Allard
Lucille Roybal-AllardDHS wants to allocate funds to the fight against immigration fraud: report the Latina leaders: "The world of women is more than anything" Here are the 95 Democrats who voted in favor of the dismissal MORE (D-Calif.) Sent agencies a letter from several Harvard and Johns Hopkins physicians, who have requested a congressional inquiry into the health conditions at border patrol facilities.
"These tragic deaths appear to account for more than half of all child deaths in the past year in these immigration centers and reflect a significantly higher death rate from influenza than the general population," wrote the doctors. "Another influenza season is approaching. … fast action is essential.
The vaccination policy was first reported by CNBC.
DeLauro and Roybal-Allard stated that they agreed with the physicians' concerns and asked the agencies to respond to specific questions by August 30th.
Once children leave CBP detention centers and are transferred to the HHS center, they undergo a full medical screening upon arrival, as well as the necessary vaccinations, including the seasonal flu shot, a spokesman said. from the agency.
The CDC recommends annual flu shots for all people over 6 months of age.
But transfers outside detention by CBP may not occur immediately, and children are held in overcrowded conditions that facilitate the spread of infectious diseases among those who are not immunized.
A recent Homeland Security Monitoring Report warned of "dangerous overcrowding" and "prolonged detention" in border detention centers in the Rio Grande Valley.
The Border Patrol held about 8,000 people, 3,400 of them longer than the three days generally allowed by law. The report revealed that of these 3,400 detainees, the border patrol had kept 1,500 for more than 10 days.
According to the CBP spokesperson, the agency has expanded its medical staff and currently employs around 200 people working along the southwestern border. In addition, the spokeswoman said that most facilities in the larger areas (such as the Rio Grande Valley) have "24/7 medical assistance available on the site.. "
According to CBP, prisoners who need vaccines "are referred to the local health system and can be vaccinated by medical staff at a local medical facility, if deemed necessary" during an initial assessment. Children receive more detailed assessments.
However, doctors who sent the letter to DeLauro and Roybal-Allard said that an increase in medical staff was not enough and that CBP needed to provide vaccines.
"Some children have been detained by CBP for more than a few days," Joshua Sharfstein, a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, said in an email. "More generally, CBP should give children the care they need to protect them as quickly as possible. The vaccine takes a few weeks to be effective. That's why, as soon as possible, the better. "
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