International groups are expressing concern after a case of polio was confirmed in Gaza with others suspected. Aid groups and international organizations are urging for a humanitarian pause in fighting to allow for a mass polio vaccination campaign. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF are planning to launch two rounds of a vaccination campaign at the end of August and September, but they are requesting a humanitarian pause of seven days to carry out the campaign.
The ultimate vaccine for polio is peace, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, but in the meantime, a Polio Pause is crucial. Polio was eradicated in Gaza 25 years ago, but vaccine coverage has dropped since the war began 10 months ago. Vaccine coverage against polio has decreased from 99% in 2022 to less than 90% in early 2024.
To avert a widespread outbreak, more than 1.6 million oral doses of polio vaccine are set to be delivered to Gaza to vaccinate over 600,000 children. However, the ongoing conflict and limited access to healthcare facilities are making the vaccination campaign challenging. Aid workers are concerned about the potential rise in suspected cases and the difficulty in containing the disease without urgent intervention.
Despite the challenges, the WHO and UNICEF are committed to carrying out the vaccination campaign in every municipality in Gaza with the help of 2,700 workers. The aid group Mercy Corps estimates that approximately 50,000 babies born since the war began have not been immunized against polio, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
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