- Over 161,000 minors in Gaza have received polio vaccinations.
During the initial two days of the polio immunization drive in Gaza, over 161,000 kids under ten have received their shots. This figure surpasses the initial goal set by authorities in the region's central zone, as per reports from the World Health Organization (WHO). They had anticipated around 156,000 children.
The high turnout is attributed to the ongoing displacements. Thousands of families are forced to leave their living spaces when Israel targets Hamas terror group locations and advises residents to seek safety. As a result, it's challenging to guarantee that each child is vaccinated. It seems likely that the three-day campaign, which started on Sunday, will be prolonged by an extra day, according to WHO.
Following that, vaccination teams will shift to the southern part of Gaza, aiming to immunize 340,000 children. Afterwards, they will proceed to the north to vaccinate another 150,000 children. All immunized individuals will need a second dose after four weeks.
The discovery of a polio case in Gaza for the first time in 25 years, affecting an eleven-month-old baby, can be traced back to the poor sanitation conditions among the hundreds of thousands of displaced people living in close proximity. The immunization drive is intended to prevent the spread of cVDPV type 2 polioviruses, as per WHO. Over 90% of children must be vaccinated, according to WHO, to prevent an outbreak.
The European Union, along with several other international organizations, has pledged their support to ensure the successful completion of the polio immunization drive in Gaza. The European Union, recognizing the complexities faced due to displacements, has pledged additional resources to facilitate the vaccination of children in Gaza.
