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(CNN) - A group of licensed doctors offering flu vaccines to migrant children detained at the Chula Vista Border Patrol Station in San Ysidro, California, was rejected, leading to protests outside a detention center.
More than 70 people, including licensed doctors, medical students and supporters, have protested since Monday and will continue to meet during the week, as they require a meeting with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office (CBP). English).
"They hope to discuss the urgent need for immigration officials to end their policy of denying detained migrants access to routine flu vaccines," Doctors for Camp Closure said in a press release. According to the statement, “Doctors for Camp Closure (D4CC) is a nonpartisan organization composed of more than 2,000 doctors and health professionals of all specialties who oppose the inhuman detention of migrants and refugees trying to enter the United States from America".
Earlier this month, a group of doctors supported by Doctors for Camp Closure proposed a free flu clinic for migrants detained in San Ysidro. The press release notes that this proposal was also ignored by the Trump administration.
At least three children in US immigration custody they died from flu infections during the 2018 flu season. This is nine times higher than the death rate of the general pediatric population, according to the Doctors for Camp Closure statement.
In a statement to CNN, a CBP spokesman said: "It has never been a practice for CBP to administer vaccines and this is not a new policy."
“People in CBP custody generally should not be held for more than 72 hours in CBP waiting rooms or in detention facilities. Every effort is made to retain detainees for the shortest time necessary for their processing, transfer, release or repatriation, as appropriate and operationally feasible. Due to the recent influx of migrants and the changing demography, CBP has sometimes been unable to limit the time in custody to 72 hours, ”the statement said.
“As a public order agency, and due to the short-term nature of CBP ownership and other logistical challenges, operating a vaccine program is not feasible. Both the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) and the Department of Health and Social Services have comprehensive medical support services and can provide vaccinations as appropriate to the people in your custody, ”CBP added .
CBP Vaccines
