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Polio Vaccination Drive in Gaza: A Race Against Time Amid Ongoing Conflict

Wednesday 28 August 2024 - 08:00

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In a critical effort to combat the resurgence of polio in Gaza, a massive vaccination campaign has been launched amidst escalating hostilities. Over 1.2 million doses of the polio vaccine arrived in the besieged territory on Monday, marking the beginning of an ambitious initiative to immunize more than 640,000 Palestinian children.

This urgent campaign, spearheaded by the United Nations in collaboration with Israel and local health authorities, comes in response to the first confirmed polio case in Gaza in a quarter-century. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) have joined forces to coordinate this crucial vaccine delivery.

UNRWA officials have expressed their intention to commence vaccine administration as early as Saturday. However, the ongoing conflict poses significant logistical challenges that may impede the smooth rollout of the campaign. Sam Rose, a senior UNRWA official, emphasized the complexity of the situation during a press briefing, stating, "This campaign will be a significant undertaking, and its success depends heavily on the situation on the ground."

The Gaza Health Ministry has confirmed that preparations are underway to vaccinate children under the age of 10. Yet, the distribution process faces potential delays, particularly in light of the Israeli Occupation Forces' recent evacuation order for Deir al-Balah, where the UN maintains its central operations hub.

The urgency of the situation was further underscored by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who reported that a 10-month-old child in Gaza had contracted polio, resulting in paralysis in one leg. This case follows the detection of the virus in wastewater samples last month, raising alarm bells about the potential for a wider outbreak.

In response to the pressing need for uninterrupted vaccine delivery, UNICEF and WHO have called for a weeklong humanitarian pause. This temporary cessation of hostilities would allow for the safe and efficient administration of both rounds of vaccines, crucial for establishing effective immunity against the disease.

Gaza's Health Ministry has emphasized that the success of the vaccination campaign hinges on concurrent improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure. This highlights the broader health challenges facing the territory and underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive ceasefire to facilitate wide-ranging health interventions.

As the vaccination drive unfolds, it stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of health workers and international organizations in the face of extraordinary challenges. The campaign not only aims to protect Gaza's children from the immediate threat of polio but also serves as a poignant reminder of the critical importance of maintaining basic health services even in the most dire circumstances.

The success of this vaccination effort could prove pivotal in preventing a wider health crisis in an already beleaguered population. As the world watches, the race against time to vaccinate Gaza's children continues, with hope that this initiative will pave the way for broader humanitarian assistance and, ultimately, a path towards peace and stability in the region.