Despite ongoing fighting in the Gaza Strip, a major vaccination campaign is underway. This is intended to prevent the spread of polio in the devastated coastal strip.
Despite Israeli attacks, the second round of vaccinations against polio has begun in the Gaza Strip, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the UN, around 590,000 children under the age of ten are to be vaccinated. The mass vaccination is being carried out by local health authorities, the UN children’s agency Unicef and the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA.
Israel and the UN organizers agreed on area-specific humanitarian ceasefires. However, just hours before the start of the vaccination campaign, according to UNRWA, a former school intended for vaccinations in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the center of the Gaza Strip was attacked by the Israeli army. Civilians sought protection there. According to information from the Gaza Strip, at least 20 people were killed. The information could not initially be independently verified.
The polio vaccinations must be administered in two doses; a first round was given at the beginning of September. In the summer, the first case of polio in 25 years was discovered in the sealed-off Palestinian territory, much of which was devastated in the Gaza war.
Polio is a contagious disease that can cause permanent paralysis or even death. The virus is often spread through contaminated water. There is currently no cure.
Source: Stern
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