The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced successful progress in its polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, exceeding initial targets in the first three days. The campaign, initiated after the detection of the first polio case in a Gazan infant last month, relies on daily eight-hour pauses in hostilities between Israel and Hamas militants to allow safe access to vulnerable areas.
In the first two days of the campaign, focusing on the central region of Gaza, WHO teams have vaccinated over 161,000 children under 10, exceeding their projected target of 150,000. This represents roughly a quarter of the total child population targeted in the campaign, aimed at preventing the spread of polio, a potentially debilitating and life-threatening disease for young children.
Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, expressed satisfaction with the initial results, stating that the humanitarian pauses have been effective in facilitating the vaccination efforts. He emphasized that with ten days remaining in the campaign, there is still significant work to be done.
This week, health teams will shift their focus to southern Gaza, with the goal of reaching approximately 340,000 children. However, challenges remain as some children in southern Gaza are reportedly located outside of the designated ceasefire zones. Negotiations are ongoing to ensure access to these children.
The WHO has stressed the crucial need for a vaccination rate of at least 90% among Gazan children to effectively contain the polio outbreak and prevent its spread both within Gaza and across borders. The organization remains committed to its mission of protecting vulnerable populations and safeguarding public health in the region.
