In brief
In a crucial vaccination initiative, thousands of children in Gaza City are now receiving their second dose of the polio vaccine this weekend. This step comes after operations were impeded by relentless Israeli bombardments and widespread evacuation orders in northern Gaza. According to the United Nations and various aid organizations, the second phase of this vaccination campaign, initially set for October 23, faced delays due to safety concerns regarding ongoing hostilities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF highlighted that the preliminary vaccination round earlier in September had already covered northern Gaza, but the violence intensified as the Israeli military intensified its operations in the region in response to what it claims is a resurgence of Hamas. Currently, only Gaza City has been granted humanitarian pauses for vaccination activities, leaving around 15,000 children under 10 in several northern towns at risk due to accessibility issues. These children, caught in the crossfire, are at risk of being overlooked in the vaccination drive, which raises concerns regarding the campaign’s overall effectiveness.Reports from COGAT, the Israeli agency responsible for policy in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, indicate that over 58,604 children under the age of 10 had been vaccinated since the initiation of the second phase of the campaign just days ago. The Gazan Health Ministry corroborated these numbers, affirming that the vaccination program would persist through Monday, despite the prevailing tensions and challenges faced in northern areas.
