Critical Humanitarian Pauses Enable Polio Vaccination in Gaza

A second round of polio vaccinations targeting 590,000 children under 10 in the Gaza Strip is set to begin on October 14. The U.N. children's agency UNICEF has coordinated these efforts during agreed humanitarian pauses amidst conflict, following a successful initial campaign that reached 90% of the target.

Humanitarian pauses have paved the way for a crucial public health intervention in Gaza. As of October 14, a second round of polio vaccinations, aimed at inoculating 590,000 children under the age of 10, is scheduled to commence with coordination from the U.N. children's agency, UNICEF.

UNICEF's Executive Director, Catherine Russell, emphasized the importance of these pauses in conflict areas, stating their necessity for the success of the vaccination initiative. The initial campaign, launched on September 1, successfully reached 90% of the target children through phased efforts during such pauses in hostilities between Israel and Hamas.

The urgency of this campaign is underscored by an August report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) of a child partially paralyzed by a type 2 polio virus, a first in Gaza in 25 years. In addition to vaccines, Vitamin A supplements will be provided to bolster children's immune systems. Ready with new vaccine equipment, UNICEF is prepared to continue these vital public health efforts.

(With inputs from agencies.)