GAZA CITY – The World Health Organization (WHO) has successfully vaccinated 161,000 children against polio in Gaza, surpassing its initial target. The rapid two-day campaign exceeded the planned figure of 156,500 children, aiming to counter the decreased immunization coverage in the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, during a UN press briefing in Geneva, the organization recorded that 74,340 children received the vaccine on the second day alone, adding to the 86,660 vaccinated on the first day. The effort is part of a broader initiative to maintain health security in an area where routine immunization has suffered due to ongoing conflicts.
The campaign, now in its third day, is focusing on central Gaza, where the majority of the remaining children are expected to be vaccinated by the end of this initial round. Despite the challenging environment, WHO teams are conducting coordinated missions in central Gaza, including in areas beyond agreed pauses, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
Gaza previously boasted a high vaccination rate, with coverage reaching 99% in 2022 for the second dose of the inactivated polio vaccine. However, by the first quarter of 2024, this rate had dropped to below 90% due to the conflict’s impact on healthcare services, raising the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Peeperkorn highlighted the critical situation in Gaza, where disruptions in routine vaccination, a new birth cohort, and the breakdown of the healthcare infrastructure significantly increase the risk of a variant poliovirus type 2 outbreak. Factors such as constant population displacement, malnutrition, and severely damaged water and sanitation systems further compound these risks.
The campaign has progressed smoothly without significant security issues, setting a positive precedent for subsequent rounds. Following the success of this initial vaccination push, a second dose is scheduled to be administered four weeks later to ensure extended protection against polio.