The second round of polio vaccinations for 119,279 children in northern Gaza has been postponed due to the intensifying conflict in the region. This delay comes after successful vaccination campaigns were conducted in central and southern Gaza. The World Health Organization (WHO) cited the ongoing violence, heavy bombardments, and widespread displacement as reasons for halting the campaign.
Israel's military offensive in northern Gaza has severely disrupted daily life, making it unsafe for families to bring their children to vaccination sites and for health workers to operate in the region. Despite these challenges, the WHO emphasizes the importance of resuming the vaccination campaign as soon as possible to prevent the spread of polio, which was detected in Gaza for the first time in 25 years.
Polio primarily spreads through sewage and contaminated water, and given the destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, the risk of an outbreak is high. The WHO stresses the need for at least two doses of the oral vaccine to stop transmission, aiming to vaccinate 90% of all children under the age of 10. Humanitarian pauses are essential to ensure that the children in northern Gaza can be safely vaccinated before the virus causes further harm.
Israel's military offensive in northern Gaza has severely disrupted daily life, making it unsafe for families to bring their children to vaccination sites and for health workers to operate in the region. Despite these challenges, the WHO emphasizes the importance of resuming the vaccination campaign as soon as possible to prevent the spread of polio, which was detected in Gaza for the first time in 25 years.
Polio primarily spreads through sewage and contaminated water, and given the destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, the risk of an outbreak is high. The WHO stresses the need for at least two doses of the oral vaccine to stop transmission, aiming to vaccinate 90% of all children under the age of 10. Humanitarian pauses are essential to ensure that the children in northern Gaza can be safely vaccinated before the virus causes further harm.
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