Between 7,000 and 10,000 children in the northern part of the Gaza Strip have remained unvaccinated against polio due to limited access to certain areas, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported.
The WHO provided an update on the second phase of the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, which concluded on November 5. “A total of 556,774 children under the age of 10 received their second dose of the vaccine,” the WHO statement said. The second phase saw 94% of children vaccinated, which the organization described as “an outstanding achievement, given the extremely challenging circumstances under which the campaign was conducted.”
However, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, where the campaign faced risks due to lack of access, preliminary data suggests a coverage rate of about 88%, the WHO noted. “It is estimated that between 7,000 and 10,000 children in inaccessible areas, such as Jabalia, Beit Lahia, and Beit Hanoun, remain unvaccinated and vulnerable to the poliovirus.” This situation “increases the risk of further poliovirus transmission in the Gaza Strip and neighboring countries,” the organization emphasized.
With the completion of the second vaccination phase in the Palestinian enclave, the polio immunization campaign that began in September 2024 has now concluded. “To stop the circulation of the polio strain in Gaza, each community needs at least two doses and a minimum of 90% vaccine coverage,” the WHO explained. The organization also mentioned that efforts to boost immunity will continue in the region “through routine immunization in existing healthcare facilities.”
The need for vaccination in the enclave became evident after the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced on August 16 that the first confirmed case of polio had been detected in central Gaza. The case was in the town of Deir al-Balah, where a 10-month-old child who had not received any polio vaccine doses was diagnosed. The diagnosis was confirmed through laboratory tests in Amman.
Polio is a dangerous infectious disease caused by a virus that affects the nervous system, can cause paralysis, and lead to death.
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Based on TASS materials