GAZA – A large-scale polio vaccination campaign has commenced in Gaza, aiming to immunize over 600,000 children amid a fragile humanitarian pause in the ongoing conflict. This critical effort marks the first mass vaccination of its kind in the region in 25 years, as the besieged enclave faces a resurgence of the highly contagious disease.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) spearheaded the initiative, which began on Sunday morning. The campaign is a response to a public health crisis triggered by the reemergence of polio, a disease that had not been detected in Gaza for a quarter of a century.
Israel has permitted a limited “humanitarian corridor” to facilitate the vaccination drive, designating safe areas where medical personnel can administer the vaccines during specific hours. The pause in hostilities, while not a full cease-fire, allowed thousands of people to visit health centers, mobile clinics, and temporary tents set up across central Gaza.
Louise Wateridge, a spokeswoman for UNRWA, described the turnout as overwhelming, noting that the atmosphere among children and parents was one of profound relief. “It’s probably the most relieved I’ve seen children,” she remarked, emphasizing the significance of the halt in fighting for the success of the campaign.
The campaign is particularly urgent as Gaza’s healthcare and sanitation infrastructure has been severely damaged by the ongoing conflict, leading to a dramatic drop in the region’s polio vaccination rate—from 99% to 86% since the war began in October. The WHO warned that the risk of polio spreading further is high, given the deteriorating living conditions and the displacement of much of the population.
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