Over 500K children under 10 yrs old vaccinated against polio in Gaza: WHO

CAIRO – 14 September 2024: During the first round of an emergency vaccination campaign conducted from September 1 to 12, 2024, approximately 560,000 children under ten years old were vaccinated against polio in the Gaza Strip, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced in a statement on Friday.

The 12-day campaign successfully administered the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to 558,963 children, thanks to meticulous planning and coordination.

An extensive network of teams was involved, operating from fixed vaccination sites at health facilities and outreach posts. Mobile and transit teams also reached out to families in shelter homes, tents, and displacement camps.

Community workers played a crucial role in raising awareness before and during the campaign. To ensure the safety of both communities and health workers, as well as to facilitate vaccination efforts, a nine-hour humanitarian pause was implemented daily for each phase of the campaign, WHO added.