Mass Polio Vaccination Campaign to Begin in Gaza Amid Ceasefire
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a mass polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, set to begin on Saturday, February 22, Anadolu Agency reported. The initiative aims to immunize over 591,000 children under the age of 10, following the detection of poliovirus in wastewater samples, which indicates its circulation in the environment.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency of the campaign, stating, “The detection of poliovirus in wastewater poses a significant risk to children, and this campaign is critical to preventing further spread.” He also welcomed the ongoing ceasefire, which has enabled health organizations to mobilize resources and personnel for the effort.
The three-day campaign is a collaborative effort involving the Gaza Health Ministry, WHO, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). This initiative follows a two-phase vaccination drive conducted in September and November 2023, which immunized over half a million children after a 10-month-old boy was paralyzed by polio—the first such case in Gaza in 25 years.
Polio, a highly infectious disease that can cause paralysis, primarily affects children under five. WHO and its partners have been working to combat the disease through vaccination campaigns, particularly in conflict-affected regions like Gaza. The current ceasefire, in place since last month, has provided a critical window for humanitarian efforts, though WHO continues to advocate for a lasting peace to ensure long-term health security.
