Humanitarian organizations have announced that the third stage of the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza will resume this Saturday. The final stage aimed to reach an estimated 119,000 children under 10 in the north of Gaza. However, it was stated in the announcement that achieving this goal is now unlikely due to access restrictions.
Humanitarian organizations announced that the third stage of the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza will continue on Saturday, following its derailment due to Israeli bombardment, mass displacement, and inadequate access. The polio campaign started on September 1st after the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed a baby was partially paralyzed due to the poliovirus in August. This case marked the first polio case in the region in 25 years.
In the joint statement by UNICEF and WHO, it was stated that “necessary humanitarian pauses have been provided for the campaign to proceed. However, the pause area has been significantly reduced compared to the first vaccination round in September 2024 in northern Gaza. The campaign now is limited to Gaza City only.” The final stage aimed to reach an estimated 119,000 children under 10 in the north of Gaza. However, it was noted in the announcement that achieving this goal is now difficult due to access restrictions.