Kelby Chichester
A polio vaccination campaign is currently happening in Gaza following the appearance of their first polio case in over 25 years. The case involved a 10-month-old child that developed paralysis in one leg. The resurgence of Polio has been linked to the current dire conditions in Gaza due to the ongoing genocide, which had led to a decline in routine immunization coverage and increased risk of vaccine preventable diseases.
The war in Gaza, which has been going on since October 2023 following the attacks by Israel, has created an unstable environment. Various experts, governments, United Nations agencies and NGOs have accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians during its military invasion and bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
By mid-August 2024, after nine months of hostilities, over 40,000 Palestinians had been confirmed dead totaling roughly one in every 59 residents of Gaza. This represents an average of 148 deaths per day, with the majority being civilians, including at least 50% women and children, as well as over 100 journalists. Many more bodies are documented on film and in writing to be buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings.
The conflict has also severely impacted Gaza's healthcare system. By June 2024, over 500 healthcare workers had been killed, and as of August, only 17 of the region’s 36 hospitals were partially functional, with 84% of health centers damaged or destroyed. The Israeli blockade has exacerbated starvation and the risk of famine by preventing essential humanitarian supplies from entering Gaza and targeting humanitarian convoys.
Early in the conflict, Israel cut off water and electricity supplies to Gaza. In addition to the humanitarian crisis, cultural destruction has been significant, with numerous culturally important sites, including libraries, universities, schools, mosques, churches and museums, being damaged or destroyed. Humanitarian workers are also often forced to relocate on short notice, which affects their ability to maintain consistent vaccination efforts and reach all target areas.
The World Health Organization, UNICEF and other partners have launched a two-phase polio vaccination campaign targeting over 640,000 children under the age of 10. The first phase, conducted in early September 2024, successfully vaccinated over 187,000 children in central Gaza, exceeding initial targets due to population movements. The first phase of the Polio vaccination campaign in Gaza was carried out by 513 teams made up of over 2,180 health workers and community outreach personnel.
These teams operated at 143 fixed locations, such as hospitals, medical points, primary care centers and camps for displaced people, as well as key public areas like temporary learning spaces, food and water distribution points and transit routes connecting central Gaza to the north and south. In addition, mobile units traveled to remote areas, including tents and other hard-to-reach locations, to ensure all families had access to the vaccine. Due to insecurity, special missions were also organized to reach children in Al-Maghazi, Al-Bureij and Al-Musaddar just beyond the agreed humanitarian pause zone where many children were unable to access vaccination sites.
Plans are being finalized for the next phase of the polio vaccination campaign in southern Gaza, scheduled from September 5-8, 2024, aiming to vaccinate approximately 340,000 children under the age of 10. To achieve this, 517 teams, including 384 mobile units, will be deployed. Nearly 300 community outreach workers have already started engaging with families in the region to raise awareness about the vaccination effort. In preparation, 490 vaccine carriers, 90 cold storage boxes and other necessary supplies have been sent to Khan Younis for distribution across vaccination sites.
The campaign's third and final phase will take place in northern Gaza from September 9-11, 2024, with the goal of vaccinating about 150,000 children.
To halt the Polio outbreak, prevent its spread beyond Gaza and minimize the risk of a resurgence, the campaign aims for at least 90% vaccination coverage in each phase. Given the severely compromised health, water and sanitation systems in Gaza, achieving this target is crucial. Vaccination coverage will be continuously assessed throughout the campaign, and efforts will be adjusted as needed to ensure that every eligible child receives the vaccine. Flexible strategies, including extending vaccination periods, will be employed to meet these coverage goals.
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