WHO and Hamas Agree to Polio Vaccination Pause in Gaza, Aiming to Vaccinate Over 600,000 Children

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Israel and the militant group Hamas have agreed to temporary pauses in fighting in the Gaza Strip, allowing a polio vaccination campaign to proceed. This initiative aims to vaccinate over 600,000 children against polio, a disease that has re-emerged in Gaza after being eradicated 25 years ago. The conflict in Gaza has severely disrupted routine vaccinations and damaged medical facilities, contributing to the outbreak. The campaign, starting on Sunday, is a joint effort by WHO and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which will oversee the administration of vaccines through health clinics and mobile health points.

• The World Health Organization and Hamas have agreed to pauses in Gaza fighting for a polio vaccination campaign.
• Over 600,000 children are targeted for vaccination in the campaign starting Sunday.
• More than a million doses of the vaccine have been delivered to Gaza, with additional supplies on the way.
• The conflict has disrupted routine vaccinations and destroyed medical facilities, leading to the return of polio in Gaza after 25 years of eradication.
• UNRWA is coordinating the vaccination effort, utilizing health clinics and mobile health points set up in schools functioning as shelters.
• Children under the age of 10 need to receive two doses of the vaccine to be protected against polio.
• The health system’s decimation and the consequent malnutrition and immune system suppression due to the ongoing conflict have contributed to the polio outbreak.
• High vaccination coverage in Gaza historically, owing to the strong health system and trust in health workers and UNRWA, is expected to aid the campaign’s success despite potential parental reticence due to misinformation.
• UNRWA and partners are engaging with community leaders and using social media to combat misinformation and encourage vaccination.

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