Vaccination of children in Gaza against polio has begun. Israel agreed to cease fighting for 8 hours daily

Vaccination of children in Gaza against polio has begun. Israel agreed to cease fighting for 8 hours daily

Vaccination of children in Gaza against polio has begun. Israel agreed to cease fighting for 8 hours daily

  • UNICEF and WHO are leading a campaign to vaccinate 640,000 children in Gaza against polio.
  • The vaccination rate in Gaza has dropped significantly due to the war and the destruction of the medical infrastructure.
  • The vaccination campaign will include 8-hour breaks to allow access to health centers.
  • Israel has agreed to extend the breaks by one day in each zone if the 90% vaccination threshold is not reached.

Vaccination of children in Gaza against polio has begun. Israel agreed to cease fighting for 8 hours daily

One of the world’s most challenging vaccination campaigns is underway, with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) leading efforts to vaccinate 640,000 children in Gaza against polio. ABC News.

Gaza historically had a very high polio vaccination rate, but this has dropped significantly due to the war, which has led to difficulties in accessing basic medical care, in the context of the destruction of medical infrastructure and the displacement of families. Poliomyelitis mainly affects children under the age of 5 and has no treatment or cure.
The population of Gaza is extremely young. Over one million children are under 18, which represents 47% of the total population. The Palestinian Bureau of Statistics estimates that there are 341,790 children under the age of 5, including more than 20,000 babies born between October 7, 2023 and April 2024. All of these children are in urgent need of protection against the devastating polio virus.
The vaccination campaign will include 8-hour breaks every day. The WHO said in a press conference that Israel had agreed to extend the breaks by one day in each area if the campaign does not reach the 90% vaccination threshold on time.
The importance of vaccination
Polio is a highly contagious disease that can cause irreversible paralysis. Vaccination is the only effective method of preventing the spread of this disease. In Gaza, where hygiene conditions are poor, the risk of spreading the virus is extremely high, especially among children.
The current vaccination campaign is essential not only for the health of children in Gaza, but also for the prevention of a possible epidemic.



Source: www.mediafax.ro