In brief
Thousands of children in Gaza City received a second dose of the polio vaccine over the weekend, a crucial effort affected by recent escalations in military action. While vaccinations have resumed, many children in northern areas remain inaccessible due to ongoing violence.
In an urgent public health initiative, thousands of children in Gaza City received a second dose of the polio vaccine amidst challenging conditions created by the ongoing military offensive in northern Gaza. Aid agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, reported that the campaign's second phase—which was initially scheduled to begin on October 23—was significantly delayed due to rising hostilities and a lack of protection assurances for healthcare workers.The first vaccination round occurred in September, targeting children in northern Gaza. However, increased Israeli military operations in the northern territories have complicated the continuation of public health measures. Despite a humanitarian pause being established for Gaza City, it was reported that approximately 15,000 children under the age of ten in northern towns remain unreachable, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the vaccination campaign.As of Sunday, the Israeli government's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) confirmed that just over 58,600 children under ten had been vaccinated since the resumption of the campaign, stating efforts would persist to maintain an effective vaccination strategy. The Ministry of Health in Gaza corroborated these figures, and officials intend to extend the vaccination push through this Monday to reach as many children as possible. Vulnerable populations continue to face substantial barriers due to the conflict, highlighting the urgent need for both health interventions and enhanced access to aid.
