Gaza: Ministry of Health Confirms Vaccination Campaign Against Polio

Polio Vaccination, Aug 2024 Photo: EFE

August 23, 2024 Hour: 7:14 pm

The health portfolio stated that its vaccination plan includes the formation of health teams and the definition of vaccination centres.

Gaza health authorities confirmed on Friday that they will start a polio vaccination campaign by the end of August.

The Gaza Ministry of Health also stated that the vaccination plan includes the training of health teams, The definition of vaccination centres and the closure of training for staff in assistance with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other local and international organizations.

The Ministry took the initiative due to a confirmed case of polio in the war-torn region and aims to stop the spread of the virus.

The vaccination programme covers all children under 10 years of age and will be carried out in two phases, with a four-week break between each, as it aims to stop the spread of polio in Gaza.

✅ Ministry of Health in Gaza:

🔴 With the start of the entry of supplies for the polio vaccination campaign into the Gaza Strip, we at the Ministry of Health emphasize the following:

🔴 The necessity of a ceasefire for the success of the campaign.

🔴 The vaccination campaign… pic.twitter.com/HhOLf1ho8L
— OpenBorders4Aid ⛑️ (@OpenBorders4Aid) August 23, 2024

At least 1.6 million doses are also planned to immunize more than 640,000 children, 400 fixed and mobile vaccination centres have been set up to facilitate the campaign and reach a vaccination coverage of over 95 per cent.

The health portfolio also called on international organizations to force the Israeli authorities to end the ongoing aggression against Gaza.

The health portfolio also called on the people of Gaza to work with health services and visit vaccination sites, which are intended to prevent the spread of the virus and eradicate polio.

Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the first suspected case of polio, which was initially identified in a 10-month-old baby from central Gaza, the first case in 25 years.

«The baby, who has developed paralysis in the lower left limb, is now stabilized», confirmed WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on his social network account X.

Three cases of children with suspected acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), a common symptom of polio, have been confirmed in Gaza.