Source Credit: AL JAZEERA
Gaza: A new five-day polio vaccination campaign in Gaza has successfully reached 602,795 children under the age of 10, providing a necessary dose to those who missed earlier rounds due to the ongoing conflict. The campaign, conducted in Gaza, concluded on Wednesday. It follows two previous vaccination rounds held in September and October last year after polio re-emerged in the region.
According to a statement by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , the head of the WHO, shared on X, the report consolidates findings from previous vaccination rounds and recent environmental monitoring.
After the poliovirus resurfaced in Gaza for the first time in more than 20 years, resulting in a paralyzed 10‑month‑old child last August, vaccination efforts were increased up. The initial rounds managed to cover over 95 percent of the targeted children with two doses of oral vaccine. However, environmental samples collected in December and January indicated that the virus was still circulating. The latest five-day drive, now enabled by a ceasefire, has reached over 600,000 children, bridging the vaccination gap caused by the conflict.
Tedros emphasized that ending polio hinges on fully vaccinating every child and ensuring uninterrupted access to safe water, sanitation, and proper nutrition. The resurgence of polio, after more than two decades, highlights the challenges posed by the conflict in Gaza and underscores the need for lasting peace to guarantee continuous healthcare services for vulnerable populations.
