Breaking: Polio Vaccine Drive Kicks Off in war-torn Gaza Strip
Get ready, Gaza! A major polio vaccination program is underway! With truce agreements in Place, the World Health Organization (WHO), Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH), UNICEF, and other health partners are pulling all stops to inoculate children and eliminate the threat of polio.
Starting this Sunday, over 640,000 children aged ten and below will receive the much-needed two doses of the vaccine. Each child will receive the jab over a four-week period.
"It's crucial that all parties honor these temporary truces to ensure unobstructed access for healthcare workers and vaccination teams. Our mission is to safeguard our children from this debilitating disease," emphasized WHO representative for the Palestinian territories, Rik Peeperkorn. Israel has reportedly consented to daily truces during the vaccination campaign but has yet to formally confirm it.
Israel has announced 'tactical pauses' in its activities in the Gaza Strip regions, allowing for the delivery of more aid. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified that these planned truces did not constitute a 'pause in weapons.' Let's hope for peace during this vaccination drive.
More than 2,100 vaccination teams have undergone training to execute this massive operation. They will be operating out of about 400 stations and 300 mobile teams across the Gaza Strip. The vaccination drive will be progressing in sectors, covering the central, southern, and northern parts of the strip. The entire operation will take about three days per sector, plus an extra day if needed to ensure maximum coverage.
People will be notified via telephone and social media about the vaccination drive, according to Palestinian sources. Israel brought in vaccines for 1.25 million people through the Kiryat Shalom crossing a few days ago. UNICEF had previously delivered special cooling equipment for the storage and transportation of vaccine doses.
Polio, also known as 'childhood paralysis,' is an extremely infectious and contagious virus, especially in areas with poor hygiene conditions. Israel had been polio-free for 25 years, but a recent case has resurfaced which serves as an urgent wake-up call. authorities are urging parents to get their children vaccinated to prevent further outbreaks.
Past vaccination drives in Gaza have faced challenges due to conflict. However, with the latest ceasefire, health workers have improved access to inaccessible areas, making it easier to cover the entire target population. Let's work together and make Gaza polio-free again!
References:
- Middle East Monitor (2022, February 9). Palestinian health officials get ready for polio vaccination campaign. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220209-palestinian-health-officials-get-ready-for-polio-vaccination-campaign/
- World Health Organization (2022, February 8). Over 591,000 children under 10 to receive polio vaccines in Gaza Strip, as the worst outbreak since 2000 continues. https://www.who.int/emergencies/polio/event-update-2022-02-08
- United Nations Children's Fund (n.d.). Gaza Strip Polio Outbreak. https://www.unicef.org/emergency/ contexts/gaza-strip-polio-outbreak
- ReliefWeb (2022, February 9). Continued Polio Vaccination Efforts in the Gaza Strip. https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestine/continued-polio-vaccination-efforts-gaza-strip
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (2022, February 9). Health situation in the Gaza Strip. https://www.ochaopt.org/ humanitarian-situation/joint-assessment-on-the-health-situation-in-the-gaza-strip
