KEY POINTS
  • At least three children held in detention centers at the Mexican border have died, in part, from the flu, a group of doctors say.
  • The government is not vaccinating migrant families and has no plans to do so ahead of the next flu season.
  • The U.S. has seen an influx of people crossing the southern border in the past year, seeking relief from their respective countries.
In this handout photo provided by the Office of Inspector General, overcrowding of families is observed by OIG at U.S. Border Patrol McAllen Station on June 10, 2019 in McAllen, Texas. (Photo by Office of Inspector General/Department of Homeland Security via Getty Images)

The U.S. won't be vaccinating migrant families in holding centers ahead of this year's flu season, despite calls from doctors to boost efforts to fight the infection that's killed at least three children at detention facilities in the past year.

"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.