A new round of polio vaccination in Gaza to fortify about 600,000 children

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said that the Palestinian Ministry of Health is leading the campaign to be supported and supported by UNRWA, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and other partners.

UNRWA Commissioner Philip Lazarini said on X that more than 1700 agency cadres will participate in the campaign through its health centers and mobile points.

This comes after a broad campaign against polio in Gaza late last year, which reached hundreds of thousands of children with the vaccine. The polio virus had been monitored in the wastewater in Gaza, endangering the lives of children in the Strip and the region.

Individuals with low immunity or the virus provide an opportunity to continue spreading and the possibility of causing the disease. The current environment in Gaza – including overcrowding in shelters and infrastructure is severely affected by water, sanitation and health hygiene – creates ideal conditions for the spread of the polio virus more.

The intense movement of people in the wake of the current ceasefire is likely to exacerbate the spread of infection with the virus.