WHO and UAE Successfully Vaccinate Over 161,000 Palestinian Children in Gaza Against Polio

In a concerted effort by WHO and UAE, over 161,000 Palestinian children in Gaza were vaccinated against polio within two days, surpassing the target. The initiative addresses gaps in immunity due to disrupted healthcare systems, aiming to immunize 90% of children.

Geneva [Switzerland], September 3 (ANI/WAM): The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 161,000 Palestinian children were vaccinated in two days during a major polio vaccination campaign in Gaza. This exceeded the initial target of 156,550 children.

Dr. Rick Peppercorn, WHO Representative in the Palestinian Territories, informed the media via video conference from Geneva that preliminary data indicated 74,340 children were vaccinated on the second day, following 86,600 on the first. Efforts are ongoing to vaccinate the remaining children in central Gaza by the end of the campaign's first round.

Multiple teams stationed at larger fixed sites and operating as mobile units have been deployed to ensure no child is missed. The high demand necessitated additional shipments of vaccines to primary health care centers in Al-Maghazi and Al-Bureij. Highlighting the reasons for the campaign, Dr. Peppercorn pointed to the high risk of poliovirus type 2 due to gaps in immunity, disrupted routine vaccination, population displacement, malnutrition, and damaged sanitation systems. Last Saturday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE, directed $5 million to support this emergency vaccination campaign, part of UAE's broader efforts to assist Palestinian children in dire humanitarian conditions.

The UAE announced that the campaign, launched Sunday, aims to protect over 640,000 children in Gaza from polio in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, and UNRWA. The goal is to vaccinate 90% of the children in the Strip to ensure widespread immunity.

(With inputs from agencies.)