The US won't vaccinate migrant children against the flu at border detention camps
The government is not vaccinating migrant families and has no plans to do so ahead of the next flu season.
"In general, due to the short-term nature of CBP holding and the complexities of operating vaccination programs, neither CBP nor its medical contractors administer vaccinations to those in our custody," a Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman said in an emailed statement. "I can tell you from personal experience that child deaths are rare events," Harvard pediatrics professor Dr. Jonathan Winickoff said in an email. Winickoff, who is also the director of pediatric research for Harvard's Tobacco Research and Treatment Center, signed on to the Aug. 1 letter with forensic pathologist Judy Melinek and Johns Hopkins public health professors Dr. Joshua Sharfstein and Dr. Paul Spiegel.
Winickoff said that current holding conditions, like being placed in close proximity to other immigrants, make it easy to spread infectious diseases from person to person. He added that contracting the flu weakens a child's immune system, making it harder to fight off other illnesses.If conditions don't improve, Dr. Julie Linton, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Immigrant Child and Family Health, said more children will needlessly die.
That, paired with unsanitary conditions, such as open toilets and "insufficient supplies" to wash hands, is a breeding ground for infection, Linton added. When asked about health-care access for people in custody, a CBP spokesperson said there's been a "dramatic increase" in medical personnel working along the southern border. CBP currently engages about 200 medical personnel, compared to the 20 personnel a year ago.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
This Is Us Season 4 Promises You Don't Know UsEXCLUSIVE: ThisIsUs just shared it's first poster for season 4 and it's making us question everything.
Read more »
U.S. Senator Schumer says he would oppose any U.S.-UK trade deal imperiling Irish borderU.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on Monday he would oppose any p...
Read more »
Gibraltar rejects US pressure to hold Iranian oil tankerAuthorities in Gibraltar say they are rejecting the United States' renewed request that the British overseas territory not release an Iranian supertanker.
Read more »
Trump Reportedly Wants The U.S. To Buy GreenlandIt’s unclear, though, how serious the president is.
Read more »
Gibraltar refuses U.S. request to seize Iranian tankerGibraltar refused on Sunday a U.S. request to seize the Iranian tanker caught in...
Read more »