Escalating Violence in Northern Gaza Forces Postponement of Critical Polio Vaccination Campaign
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Jerusalem/Amman/Geneva – The ongoing conflict in northern Gaza has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, prompting the Polio Technical Committee for Gaza to postpone the third phase of a crucial polio vaccination campaign. This decision, announced today, involves key partners including the Palestinian Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The campaign aimed to vaccinate 119,279 children across northern Gaza but has been thwarted by escalating violence, intense bombardments, and widespread displacement orders.
The deteriorating situation in northern Gaza has made it increasingly dangerous for families to bring their children for vaccination, while health workers are unable to operate effectively. Ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure have jeopardized the safety and movement of people in the region, making the implementation of health initiatives nearly impossible.
Prior to the escalation, all logistical preparations, supplies, and trained personnel were ready to administer the second dose of the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) after a successful first round from September 1 to 12, 2024. However, with the area designated for temporary humanitarian pauses now significantly reduced to only Gaza City, many children in northern Gaza are at risk of missing their vital vaccine doses.
To effectively interrupt poliovirus transmission, a minimum of 90% vaccination coverage is required within every community. Humanitarian pauses are essential to enable the delivery of vaccination supplies to health facilities, allow families to safely access vaccination sites, and enable mobile health teams to reach children in their neighbourhoods. Delays in administering the second dose of nOPV2 within the recommended six-week timeframe could severely undermine the campaign’s effectiveness and the overall effort to halt poliovirus transmission. Missing this critical vaccination period may lead to a resurgence of poliovirus in Gaza and potentially neighbouring regions, increasing the risk of paralysis among children.
Since the rollout of the second round of the polio campaign on October 14, 2024, health officials reported that 442,855 children under ten years old in central and southern Gaza have been successfully vaccinated, achieving 94% of the target in those areas. Additionally, 357,802 children aged two to ten received vitamin A supplements, integrating essential health services with the polio vaccination efforts.
Urgent action is needed to control the polio outbreak and prevent further paralysis among children. It is imperative that the vaccination campaign in northern Gaza proceeds with the support of humanitarian pauses to ensure access for all eligible children. WHO and UNICEF have called on all parties involved to prioritize the protection of civilians, health workers, and critical infrastructure such as schools, shelters, and hospitals. They reiterate the necessity for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate these essential health interventions and safeguard the wellbeing of vulnerable populations.
