UN Announces Start of Second Phase of Polio Vaccinations in Southern Gaza

The second phase of the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza commenced on September 5, 2024, targeting children under 10 years of age in the southern region, primarily in Khan Younis. This follows the successful completion of the first phase in central Gaza, where over 187,000 children were vaccinated, surpassing the initial target of 156,000.

During the first day of the southern campaign, more than 160,000 children received vaccinations, with specific numbers reported as 152,000 in Khan Younis, nearly 8,800 in Rafah, and about 1,000 in other areas.

The overall goal is to vaccinate 340,000 children in southern Gaza over the next few days, utilizing 517 teams, including 384 mobile units to reach children in various settings, such as schools and health centers.

The campaign aims to provide two doses of the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to a total of 640,000 children across all phases, responding to the recent resurgence of polio in the region after 25 years of being polio-free. This resurgence was prompted by the detection of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in environmental samples collected in June 2024.

The vaccination campaign is taking place amid ongoing hostilities in Gaza, with reports of airstrikes resulting in civilian casualties. On the same day that vaccinations began in the south, at least 10 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes, highlighting the precarious conditions under which health workers are operating.

UN humanitarian officials, including Sigrid Kaag, have emphasized the importance of maintaining humanitarian pauses to facilitate vaccination efforts. Kaag participated in the vaccination process at a Japanese health clinic in Khan Younis, reinforcing the campaign’s significance in protecting children’s health amid the ongoing conflict.

The third and final phase of the vaccination campaign is scheduled for September 9-11 in northern Gaza, where approximately 150,000 children are expected to be targeted. Following this, a second round of vaccinations will be conducted four weeks later to ensure comprehensive coverage.

The UN and its partners remain committed to overcoming the challenges posed by the conflict to ensure that all eligible children receive the necessary vaccinations to prevent the spread of polio in the region.