Vaccines Roll Out: Polio Eradication Initiative Kicks Off in Gaza Strip Amidst Ceasefire
Good news for Gaza residents, as the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH), UNICEF, and other health partners gear up for a massive polio vaccination program! With temporary truces in place, these organizations are set to deliver vital doses to children, aiming to eliminate the threat of polio in the region.
Starting this Sunday, over 640,000 children aged ten and below will receive two vaccine doses over a four-week period. This operation, which will cover the central, southern, and northern parts of the strip, will maintain a three-day process per sector with an extra day if necessary to guarantee maximum coverage.
Rik Peeperkorn, WHO's representative for the Palestinian territories, emphasized, "The cooperation of all parties in upholding these truces is essential to ensure free movement for healthcare workers and vaccination teams. It's crucial to protect our children from this devastating disease." Israel has agreed to daily truces during the vaccination campaign, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified these suspensions do not equate to a 'pause in hostilities.'
This undertaking requires about 2,100 trained vaccination teams working out of nearly 400 stations and 300 mobile teams across the Gaza Strip. Residents will be notified via phone and social media about the vaccination drive, per Palestinian sources. Israel delivered vaccines for 1.25 million people via the Kiryat Shalom crossing a few days ago, and UNICEF facilitated the delivery of cooling equipment for vaccine storage and transport.
Polio, commonly known as "childhood paralysis," is a highly infectious and contagious virus that primarily affects areas with poor hygiene conditions. As Israel has been polio-free for a quarter-century, a recent case has reemerged, serving as an urgent reminder for parents to vaccinate their children to prevent further outbreaks.
Despite conflicts in the past, the current ceasefire has provided better access for health workers, making it easier to vaccinate the target population. Let's join forces and eliminate polio in Gaza once again!
References:
- Middle East Monitor (2022, February 9). Palestinian health officials gear up 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
Notes: - Access issues during the conflict led to approximately 7,000 children missing vaccination during the second round in October 2024, particularly in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun where humanitarian pauses for vaccination were not assured. - The dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, including damaged water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure, facilitates fecal-oral transmission of the poliovirus, creating ideal conditions for its spread. - Extensive population movement due to the ceasefire may enhance the flow of poliovirus infection. - The recent truce has provided health workers considerably better access to all areas, enabling them to reach more children who had missed vaccinations. - The campaigns have shown success in maintaining high immunization rates despite the challenges, and have reached a substantial number of children. - Additional vaccination efforts are required to reach every child, strengthen population immunity, and prevent future outbreaks. - The community engagement and awareness of vaccination benefits have been essential in maintaining high immunization rates throughout this initiative.
