Israel's military announced on Sunday that polio vaccines for over 1 million people have been delivered to Gaza following the first confirmed case of the disease in the territory in 25 years. The delivery of more than 25,000 vials of vaccine raises questions about the distribution process in Gaza, where ongoing conflict has hindered humanitarian efforts during the prolonged war.
Suspected cases of polio have emerged in various locations in Gaza after the virus was detected in wastewater in six different areas in July. Aid groups are planning to vaccinate over 600,000 children under the age of 10 and are urgently calling for a pause in the conflict to facilitate increased vaccinations. The World Health Organization and the United Nations children's agency have recommended a minimum seven-day ceasefire for this purpose.
The U.N. aims to bring 1.6 million doses of polio vaccine into Gaza, where many displaced Palestinians are living in overcrowded tent camps with inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities. The disease, which spreads through contaminated feces, water, or food, primarily affects young children and can lead to severe complications such as breathing difficulties and irreversible paralysis.
Israeli military authorities overseeing Palestinian civilian affairs stated that five trucks equipped with refrigeration units for vaccine storage were brought into Gaza on Friday in coordination with the U.N. The vaccination campaign will be carried out by international and local medical teams at various locations in Gaza, with support from Israel's military during humanitarian pauses.
Since the onset of the war in early October, more than 282,000 vials of the polio vaccine have been delivered to Gaza. The healthcare system in the territory has been severely impacted, with only a fraction of hospitals and primary healthcare facilities operational. Despite these challenges, the WHO and UNICEF are committed to conducting a comprehensive vaccination campaign across all municipalities in Gaza with the assistance of 2,700 healthcare workers.
Before the conflict, 99% of Gaza's population was vaccinated against polio. However, this coverage has decreased to 86% amid the current crisis, according to the WHO. Efforts to contain the spread of polio in Gaza continue amidst the ongoing conflict.
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