Officially commences the polio immunization initiative in Gaza
On Saturdays, some young ones had already received their initial vaccine dosage at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, located in the southern Palestinian territories. However, the extensive immunization against the highly infectious virus commenced on a broader scale on Sundays. As per Schaabane, numerous drones were spotted above Gaza City's central district on Sunday mornings, hopeful that this vaccination initiative for children might progress without any issues.
Israel had granted "humanitarian pauses" in the Gaza conflict a few days prior for polio vaccinations. The first instance of polio paralysis in a baby was identified within the Gaza Strip in nearly a quarter-century. As per Israeli authorities, the inoculation is initially scheduled to begin in Gaza City's center until Tuesday, followed by additional three-day vaccination campaigns in the southern and northern sections of the coastal region.
The World Health Organization (WHO) requested humanitarian ceasefires to administer polio vaccines to more than 640,000 children under the age of ten. At least 90% of children in Gaza are anticipated to receive their first oral polio vaccine dosage in the upcoming days.
The virus was spotted in wastewater samples in Khan Younis and Gaza City's central district in July. Recently, the first case of polio in Gaza was confirmed in a ten-month-old baby from Deir al-Balah. Poliomyelitis, also known as polio paralysis, is caused due to an acute infectious virus that targets the spinal cord and can result in permanent paralysis in children.
The polio vaccination initiative, as per Israeli authorities, will initially be conducted in Gaza City's center. Nearly all children in Gaza are expected to receive their first oral polio vaccine dosage, as requested by the World Health Organization.
