Approximately 20,000 migrant children may not have received vaccinations for diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, polio, hepatitis B, measles, and chickenpox. Despite this, New York City Public Schools are allowing these children to start the school year, granting them a 30-day waiver to obtain their vaccinations, a privilege not extended to native students.
Concerns have been raised about the potential health risks posed by the lack of vaccination among migrants crossing the border. Studies indicate that migrants are less likely to be vaccinated against measles and are more likely to carry the disease. For instance, Yemen reported over 20,000 to 40,000 cases of measles last year, making it the country with the highest incidence of the disease. Additionally, India, which ranks fourth globally for measles cases, saw over 40,000 Indian immigrants illegally crossing the southern U.S. border last year.
