UN begins polio vaccination in Gaza, as fighting rages
The United Nations, in collaboration with Palestinian health authorities, began to vaccinate 640,000 children in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, with Israel and Hamas agreeing to brief pauses in their 11-month conflict to allow the campaign to go ahead.
 Polio vaccination, Nasser hospital, Khan Younis, August 31, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS) |
The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed last month that a baby was partially paralyzed by the type 2 polio virus, the first such case in the territory in 25 years.
The campaign began on Sunday in areas of central Gaza, and will move to other areas in coming days. Fighting will pause for at least eight hours on three consecutive days.
The WHO said the pauses will likely need to extend to a fourth day and the first round of vaccinations will take just under two weeks.
Israel and Hamas, who have so far failed to conclude a deal that would end their conflict, said they would cooperate to allow the campaign to succeed.
WHO officials say at least 90% of the children need to be vaccinated twice with four weeks between doses for the campaign to succeed, but it faces huge challenges in Gaza, which has been largely destroyed by nearly 11 months of conflict.