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Gaza Faces Polio Outbreak Amidst Ongoing Conflict
A rare case of polio has emerged in Gaza, marking the first instance of the disease in the area in 25 years. A Palestinian infant has been reported to have sustained partial paralysis in their lower left leg due to poliovirus type 2, as confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO) chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Despite this alarming development, the infant is currently in stable condition.
In response to this public health crisis, more than 1.6 million doses of the polio vaccine are scheduled to be delivered to Gaza for an extensive immunization campaign. This campaign will be conducted in two rounds, with the initial round set to commence on August 31 and the follow-up round anticipated between late September and early October.
According to UNICEF, the necessary refrigeration units to maintain the vaccine at the optimal temperature of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius have begun entering Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing. John Crickx, a spokesperson for UNICEF, indicated that the goal is to vaccinate over 640,000 children under the age of 10 across both rounds of the vaccination effort.
“To ensure sufficient vaccination coverage, at least 95% of the targeted children need to receive both doses of the vaccine,” stated Crickx. The vaccines are expected to arrive shortly via air transport to Tel Aviv before being transported into Gaza. They will be stored at a refrigerated facility in Deir el-Balah, strategically located in the middle of the strip.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the UN is appealing to both Israel and Hamas for a humanitarian ceasefire to facilitate the vaccination initiative. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN relief agency UNRWA, emphasized the need for immediate action, noting that polio does not discriminate between Palestinian and Israeli children. “Delaying a humanitarian pause increases the risk of the virus spreading among vulnerable children,” he warned.
While Hamas has expressed its support for a humanitarian ceasefire, Israel has yet to agree, although it has indicated a willingness to support the vaccination efforts. Crickx cautioned that a successful vaccination campaign cannot occur without temporary halts in the ongoing hostilities. Parents need to be able to safely bring their children to health centers, and healthcare workers must also be able to reach those in need without fear for their safety.
UNRWA reported that it has been able to vaccinate 80% of Gaza’s children since the onset of the current conflict. However, these vaccinations did not specifically target the type 2 poliovirus, and the overall vaccination rate has dropped significantly compared to pre-war figures, which stood at 99% in 2022 according to WHO and UNICEF data, successfully keeping polio at bay in Gaza.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) unit responsible for operations in the occupied territories, COGAT, announced that it is preparing to bring in 43,250 vials of vaccine designed to counteract the specific variant of the virus found in environmental samples taken from Gaza. Each vial contains multiple doses, with an ample supply to provide vaccination for over a million children in two rounds.
COGAT has assured that refrigerated trucks will be used to maintain the vaccines’ integrity. Nonetheless, Lazzarini remarked in a social media post that merely transferring the vaccines to Gaza and securing the cold chain is insufficient. “For these vaccines to be impactful, they must reach the mouths of every child under the age of 10,” he stressed.
The logistics of distributing the vaccine in Gaza pose significant challenges, particularly given that many families have been displaced multiple times due to ongoing conflict. In the absence of a ceasefire, executing this immunization campaign presents considerable risks to healthcare workers and the families involved.
“No one is safe, nowhere is safe,” Tedros lamented. “People are left with barely any options to seek shelter, healthcare, and other essential services in a congested and demanding environment.”
On social media, WHO’s head highlighted the precarious situation of healthcare facilities, which are at risk of becoming non-functional due to insecurity and challenges in accessing essential services. Tedros implored all parties involved to take measures to avoid further jeopardizing medical capabilities during this critical time.
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