Gaza polio vaccinations set to resume Saturday, health ministry assures

The second round of polio vaccinations in northern Gaza is set to resume on Saturday morning, according to Palestinian Health Minister Majid Abu Ramadan.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, also confirmed that the vaccinations may resume over the weekend. The vaccination campaign was previously postponed on October 23 due to Israel’s military siege, bombardment, and mass displacement of people, which hindered access to certain areas.

The polio vaccination campaign in Gaza began in September after a 25-year lapse since the last confirmed case in August. The goal is to vaccinate over 640,000 children in the war-torn territory fully. Polio is a highly infectious disease that primarily affects children under five, causing deformities, paralysis, and even death in severe cases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the importance of humanitarian pauses to ensure the success of the vaccination campaign. These pauses allow for the safe delivery of vaccination supplies, enable families to access vaccination sites, and facilitate mobile teams to reach children in their communities. The UN health agency has urged all parties to protect civilians, health workers, and civilian infrastructure.

However, the delayed vaccination in northern Gaza poses a significant risk of poliovirus transmission and potential spread to neighboring countries.

The anticipated resumption of vaccinations on Saturday morning is a crucial step towards containing the outbreak and protecting the health of Gaza’s children.