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There has been a decline in the number of Americans receiving the COVID vaccine: by mid-June, only 870,000 new injections per day, which is down sharply from a high of about 3.3 million a day on average in mid-April (according to the CDC). Due to lack of demand, vaccines will expire and be wasted. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are stable for six months if frozen at 20° C. Once thawed the Pfizer vaccine is stable for 5 days refrigerated and the Moderna vaccine is stable for 30 days refrigerated.

Besides the COVID crisis we also have a border crisis. Approximately  4,700-6,000 people cross the border daily and are coming from over 100 countries throughout the world. The estimated positivity rate among these illegals is 15-25%. A major concern right now is Delta or B.1.617.2. variant, a highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 virus strain, which was first identified in India in December. It has since spread throughout the world with the first case in this country in March 2021.  In January and February, the migrant apprehension was between 78,442 to 100,441. This was a 28% increase over the previous time period.

Fortunately the COVID vaccines work against this new Delta variant. We have an abundant supply of the vaccine. You cannot force Americans to take the vaccine. It is a choice. But the illegals who cross our borders, do not  have a choice. Why not require all to be vaccinated at the border? 

The Department of Health and Human Services has regulatory authority to  establish requirements for the medical examination of aliens  before they may be admitted into the United States. Under this authority, the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine administers the regulations which include the health-related conditions that make aliens ineligible for entry into the United States. If they are allowed into the USA, why not require all to receive the COVID vaccine?

We have a pandemic crisis and these illegals must be vaccinated. Why waste these vaccines and let them expire? Why not protect the American people? The response will be 'this is inhumane'--yet they also decry every American should be vaccinated. We have criteria to come into this country. Why not require the COVID vaccine?

       --Robert Tomlinson, Lincolnton

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