Gaza Launches Polio Vaccination Amid Turmoil

A campaign to vaccinate children against polio in Gaza began as part of efforts to prevent an outbreak amid ongoing conflict. The Health Ministry announced the vaccination drive, which includes a temporary cease-fire to facilitate the immunization of around 650,000 children. The campaign follows the detection of the first polio case in Gaza in 25 years.

Amid ongoing conflict, a campaign to vaccinate children against polio began in Gaza on Saturday, the Health Ministry announced. This initiative is crucial to prevent a polio outbreak as the region reels from ongoing military offensives.

The vaccination rollout, set to immunize around 650,000 Palestinian children, will be accompanied by a temporary cease-fire agreed upon by Israel and the UN World Health Organization. The first polio case in 25 years in Gaza was detected earlier this month, driving the urgency of the campaign.

Healthcare workers emphasize the need for a cease-fire to enable the vaccination of all targeted children. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified since the onset of the war, which has claimed numerous lives and deepened public health concerns.

(With inputs from agencies.)