World
Successful Polio Vaccination Campaign in Gaza Exceeds Expectations
Discover how the recent polio vaccination campaign in Gaza surpassed expectations, achieving remarkable coverage and community involvement. Learn about the strategies that led to its success and the impact on public health in the region.
Successful Polio Vaccination Campaign in Gaza
The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) announced on Tuesday that its initiative to vaccinate 640,000 children against polio in Gaza has exceeded expectations, as families are eagerly bringing their children for vaccination. In the initial two days of this approximately 10-day operation, health teams successfully administered the two-drop oral vaccine to 161,030 children, surpassing the W.H.O.’s target of 150,000 for this initial phase in central Gaza.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, the organization’s representative for the Palestinian territories, shared insights via video link from Gaza, noting that the atmosphere surrounding the vaccination sites has been “almost festive,” with families gathering at designated locations to get their children vaccinated.
Despite ongoing Israeli airstrikes in various parts of Gaza, the Israeli authorities have permitted temporary pauses in the fighting to facilitate the vaccination efforts. “So far, these measures have been effective,” Dr. Peeperkorn remarked.
Looking ahead, health teams plan to extend their efforts to southern Gaza, where they aim to reach an estimated 340,000 children, before progressing to northern areas to vaccinate an additional 150,000 children. The W.H.O. and its partner organizations emphasize the necessity of vaccinating 90 percent of children under the age of 10 to prevent a resurgence of polio.
The situation in Gaza is critical, as the region is grappling with a surge of infectious diseases, exacerbated by overcrowded living conditions and the destruction of the health care infrastructure due to ongoing conflict.