Polio vaccine drive presses on in Gaza due to conflicts

The Palestinian Ministry of Health has announced today that its teams, in collaboration with UN agencies, are continuing their polio vaccination campaign for a third consecutive day, targeting children under the age of 10 in central Gaza. Health workers in Gaza are determined to protect the enclave’s youngest residents from a different kind of threat, polio.

The campaign, which began earlier this week, has already reached 158,992 children in central Gaza, a critical step toward the Ministry’s goal of vaccinating some 640,000 children across the entire region. The effort in central Gaza is set to continue until Wednesday evening, with the campaign shifting to southern Gaza on Thursday and then to northern Gaza starting next Monday.

Also Read: UN agencies call for humanitarian pause in Gaza to vaccinate children against polio

The Ministry’s persistence in this vaccination drive highlights the ongoing public health challenges in a region devastated by conflict. As the campaign presses forward, health workers are racing against time to protect Gaza’s children, who face the dual threats of war and disease.

Even in the midst of such turmoil, the Ministry remains committed to its mission. “Our teams are working tirelessly to ensure that every child in Gaza receives their polio vaccine,” a spokesperson for the Ministry said, emphasizing the urgency and importance of the campaign.

As the week progresses, the success of this vaccination effort will be closely watched, not only as a public health victory but also as a testament to the resilience and determination of those working on the ground in Gaza.