In brief
In stark contrast to the ongoing conflicts, thousands of children in Gaza are receiving their second doses of the polio vaccine in a campaign severely hindered by rampant violence and mass evacuations in northern Gaza.
In a bid to combat the resurgence of polio, the vaccination efforts were initially delayed due to fears for health workers' safety amid intense Israeli military actions against Hamas. Originally scheduled to commence on October 23, the campaign was postponed until assurances for humanitarian pauses were granted. However, access remains limited particularly in northern regions where ongoing offensives have compromised the vaccination efforts.As reported by the United Nations and other aid organizations, while approximately 15,000 children under 10 in northern towns are currently out of reach and unable to receive their doses, the campaign has actively vaccinated at least 58,604 children since its recent restart in Gaza City. The Gazan Health Ministry confirmed these figures, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the health of the youngest population amidst an escalating crisis.Despite the challenges, Israel’s COGAT agency stated their commitment to facilitate further vaccination efforts, ensuring that essential health campaigns can continue amid the geopolitical turmoil. The campaign is projected to extend through Monday, striving to reach as many children as possible to prevent the spread of polio, while the ongoing violence poses a significant threat to public health initiatives.
