UN Reports Progress in Gaza Polio Vaccination Campaign, 187,000 Children Vaccinated Amid Conflict

Sep 5, 2024, 12:00 AM

The United Nations and its partners have made significant progress in a polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, despite ongoing conflict. Since the campaign began on September 1, 161,000 children have been vaccinated, surpassing the initial goal of 150,000. In total, 187,000 children have been vaccinated during the first phase. The campaign aims to inoculate an additional 340,000 children in southern Gaza by the end of the week. Health workers are going tent to tent in areas like Deir Al-Balah to reach children who cannot access health facilities, and awareness sessions are being held to educate communities. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have called for a longer humanitarian pause to ensure the campaign's success. The conflict, which has lasted over 10 months, has severely impacted Gaza's healthcare infrastructure, leading to the resurgence of polio after 25 years. The campaign's success is crucial to preventing the spread of the virus and protecting children's health amid the ongoing hostilities.