September 1, 2024
The United Nations has reported a successful start to the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, aimed at immunizing 640,000 children. The first day of the campaign, which began with a series of localized pauses in fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, has gone well, according to UN spokesperson Salim Oweis.
The campaign is critical due to the first confirmed polio case in Gaza in 25 years. To ensure the vaccine’s effectiveness, the World Health Organization (WHO) requires that at least 90% of children under 10 be vaccinated swiftly. This vaccination effort follows an agreement with Israel to allow temporary ceasefires for the initiative.
Unicef has facilitated the delivery of approximately 1.3 million vaccine doses through the Kerem Shalom checkpoint. These doses have been stored under stringent conditions to maintain their potency, with an additional 400,000 doses expected soon. The initial phase of the campaign focused on central Gaza, with plans to extend to other regions.
During the first phase, nearly 2,000 children were vaccinated at the Deir el-Balah clinic alone. Parents, such as Ghadir Hajji, have expressed the urgency of the vaccination, following notifications from the Ministry of Health.
Each humanitarian pause is scheduled from 06:00 to 15:00 local time over three days, with the possibility of extending the period if necessary. Unicef’s Jonathan Crickx emphasized the importance of these truces for the campaign’s success, noting the challenges of operating in an active combat zone.
Dr. Mohammed Salha, involved in the vaccination drive, highlighted issues such as fuel shortages and logistical difficulties due to damaged infrastructure. He expressed concern that people might be hesitant to leave shelters to access healthcare services.
The polio outbreak has had a significant impact on Gaza’s children. One such case is baby Abdulrahman Abu Judyan, who was diagnosed with polio after missing routine vaccinations due to the ongoing conflict. His mother, Niveen, has been struggling to provide adequate care and hopes for treatment outside Gaza.
The vaccination campaign involves over 2,000 workers and will utilize more than 400 fixed and 230 outreach vaccination sites. Children will receive two drops of the oral polio vaccine in two rounds, with the second round administered four weeks after the first.
The polio virus detected in Gaza is a mutated strain from an oral vaccine, which can occasionally evolve into new forms. The WHO is closely monitoring the situation to prevent further outbreaks and ensure regional safety.
The focus remains on controlling the outbreak in Gaza, where nearly half of the 2.3 million residents are children. The campaign aims to reduce suffering and protect the health of Gaza’s youngest population amid the ongoing conflict.
