16 August 2024 – The WHO and UNICEF have called for a seven-day humanitarian pause in Gaza to facilitate two rounds of polio vaccination scheduled for late August and September 2024. This pause is crucial to ensure that over 640,000 children under ten can receive the vaccine, particularly in a conflict-ridden area where access to healthcare is severely limited.
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Poliovirus was detected in environmental samples from Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah in July 2024, and three suspected cases of acute flaccid paralysis have been reported. Over 1.6 million doses of the nOPV2 vaccine will be delivered to Gaza to stop the spread of the virus, but safe delivery and transport depend on cooperation at every stage.
The vaccination campaign will involve 2,700 health workers across hospitals and primary care centers in Gaza. A 95% coverage rate is necessary to prevent a major outbreak, especially given the deteriorated health, water, and sanitation systems in the region. The humanitarian community has warned of the risk of polio reemergence in Gaza for the past ten months, emphasizing that a ceasefire is essential for ensuring public health security in the area.