WHO Begins Gaza Polio Vaccination for 640,000 Children Amid September 1 Pauses

Aug 31, 2024, 08:36 AM

The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have launched a polio vaccination campaign in Gaza following the first reported case of polio in 25 years. The campaign aims to vaccinate over 640,000 children under the age of 10, starting on September 1. Israel has agreed to a series of three-day humanitarian pauses to allow the vaccinations to proceed, although these pauses will be limited to certain areas and times. The WHO has secured 1.26 million doses of the vaccine, with an additional 400,000 doses expected to arrive soon. The campaign is being conducted in coordination with Gaza's Health Ministry, UNICEF, and UNRWA. The reemergence of polio in Gaza has raised concerns among health experts about a potential outbreak, compounding the already dire humanitarian situation in the region. WHO’s emergencies director, Michael Ryan, emphasized the importance of adherence to commitments made for the campaign's success.