Polio Vaccination Campaign Resumes in Northern Gaza Amid Challenges
The third phase of a polio vaccination campaign is starting today in the northern Gaza Strip. This phase was delayed from October 23 due to safety concerns, including intense bombardment and mass evacuation orders, which made it unsafe for families to bring their children for vaccination. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced that a humanitarian pause has been assured, but it is limited to Gaza City, unlike the broader pause during the first round in September 2024.
Unfortunately, around 15,000 children under ten in towns like Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun remain inaccessible, affecting the campaign’s effectiveness. To stop the spread of poliovirus, at least 90% of children in every community need to be vaccinated, which is challenging under the current conditions.
Despite these challenges, the Polio Technical Committee for Gaza has decided to resume the campaign to avoid further delays and to vaccinate children who have recently moved to Gaza City. The campaign follows successful earlier phases in central and southern Gaza, where 451,216 children, or 96% of the target, were vaccinated. Additionally, 364,306 children aged 2 to 10 years have received vitamin A in this round.
Doubts Revealed
Polio -: Polio is a disease caused by a virus that can make people very sick, sometimes causing paralysis. Vaccines help protect people from getting this disease.
Vaccination Campaign -: A vaccination campaign is an organized effort to give vaccines to many people, especially children, to protect them from diseases like polio.
Gaza -: Gaza is a small region located in the Middle East, near Israel and Egypt. It is often in the news due to conflicts and humanitarian issues.
Safety Concerns -: Safety concerns mean there were worries about whether it was safe to carry out the vaccination campaign, possibly due to conflicts or other dangers in the area.
Gaza City -: Gaza City is the largest city in the Gaza Strip, where many people live and where the vaccination campaign is focused.
Jabalia -: Jabalia is a town in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. It is mentioned because children there are hard to reach for the vaccination campaign.
Polio Technical Committee -: The Polio Technical Committee is a group of experts who make decisions about how to best carry out the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza.