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The World Health Organization (WHO) has reached a deal with the Israeli government to initiate a polio vaccination campaign for 640,000 children in Gaza.
What’s the deal: The polio vaccination campaign in Gaza will kick off on Sunday, September 1, and will be rolled out in three phases across the Gaza Strip. The campaign will take place during “humanitarian pauses” in the war, ensuring health workers can administer the vaccine safely. Each phase will last three days in different regions: central Gaza from September 1 to 4, southern Gaza from September 5 to 8, and northern Gaza, including Gaza City, from September 9 to 12. Vaccinations will be available daily from 6 am to 3 pm during these periods.
A major operation: Over 2,100 health workers will be mobilized for the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, tasked with administering the vaccine throughout the Gaza Strip during designated humanitarian pauses. According to WHO, 1.26 million doses of vaccines have been delivered to Gaza, with another 400,000 on the way.
Why now: Polio has recently resurfaced in Gaza, with the virus detected in sewage samples and the first case confirmed in a 10-month-old unvaccinated child. The disease primarily affects children under the age of five, making them the most vulnerable population. It spreads through contaminated water and can lead to severe health consequences, including irreversible paralysis. In some cases, it can even result in death.
Top WHO official reacts: In a statement, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “We welcome the commitment to humanitarian pauses in specific areas, and suspension of evacuation orders for the implementation of the campaign. But the only lasting medicine is peace. The only way to fully protect all the children of Gaza is a ceasefire.”
