US begins vaccinating unaccompanied migrant minors

USA announces how it will distribute vaccines to other countries 9:28

(CNN) -

The government of President Joe Biden is vaccinating unaccompanied immigrant minors who are eligible to receive the injection against COVID-19, according to a senior official with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS, for its acronym in English).

"We are working place by place to ensure that the Covid-19 vaccine is available as part of the healthcare package for all eligible minors," said JooYeun Chang, Acting Assistant Secretary for the HHS Administration for Children and Families.

His remarks took place during a hearing in a House panel on Wednesday.

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CNN contacted HHS to request more details on the vaccine rollout and how many minors have received the drug so far.

Lack of staff to care for unaccompanied minors 2:22

Protocol for the vaccination of unaccompanied minors

In an internal guide obtained by CNN, the HHS office in charge of the care of unaccompanied immigrant minors cites the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that all people 12 years and older receive the vaccine against the covid-19.

That includes minors in the department's care.

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«All age-eligible minors in Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) care programs, influx care centers (ICF), and emergency admission sites ( EIS, for its acronym in English) should receive the vaccine against covid-19 ", says the guide dated June 4.

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This is the journey of migrant minors 2:57

Immigrant minors in HHS care often participate in a vaccination program that includes, for example, the chickenpox vaccine.

According to the guidelines of the department, the application of the vaccine against covid-19 should be part of the medical examination or health evaluation that is carried out on minors when they are initially in custody.

The guide also sets out consent procedures.

In the case of minors who have a parent or legal guardian in the United States, for example, informed consent is required.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement care provider can also give consent on behalf of minors.

Minors, for their part, can refuse the vaccine.

A total of 16,262 children were in HHS care as of June 7, of varying ages.

Coronavirus Vaccine