Medical professionals caring for migrant children and their families in holding at the southern border will not vaccinate them against influenza in preparation for the upcoming influenza season, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, confirmed to Infectious Diseases in Children.

“In general, due to the short-term nature of CBP holding, the time the vaccine takes to begin working, and the complexities of operating vaccination programs, neither CBP nor its medical contractors administer vaccinations to those in our custody,” the spokesperson said in an interview. “Persons in our custody who require vaccination are referred to the local health system and may receive vaccinations by medical personnel at a local medical facility, if determined necessary by the medical professional during their assessment.”