Mass vaccination efforts underway for Afghan refugees exposed to measles
Biden administration halted resettlement efforts for Afghan refugees after measles outbreaks occurred in Virginia and Wisconsin.
By Colton Salaz
Updated: September 16, 2021 - 5:54pm
Medical personnel in Germany have started administering the Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR) vaccine to the nearly 9,000 refugees currently housed at Ramstein and Rhine Ordnance Barracks. The Biden administration halted inbound flights containing Afghan refugees after six measles cases were discovered in Virginia and Wisconsin.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alongside the Department of Homeland Security, are recommending that Afghan evacuees currently housed on Ramstein Air Base in Germany be tested and subsequently vaccinated for the deadly disease.
“We understand the evacuees have been on a difficult journey, and we are committed to ensuring their health, safety and security during this short-term delay,” the administration said in a statement from Ramstein Air Base.
Meanwhile, the Virginia Department of Health confirmed that five people who arrived from Afghanistan have tested positive for measles in northern Virginia. The health agency was attempting to contact-trace people who risked exposure at places that included two local hospitals and Dulles International Airport.
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https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/health/mass-vaccination-efforts-underway-afghan-refugees-exposed-measles
