Second round of polio vaccination campaign begins in Gaza, WHO says
The World Health Organization said on X on Monday that the second phase of a polio vaccination campaign had started in central Gaza.
The first round of vaccination was undertaken last month after a baby was partially paralysed by the type 2 polio virus in August, the first case in the territory in 25 years.
The second round is targeting an estimated 591,700 children under the age of ten and will also be carried out in three phases, each consisting of three campaign days and one catch-up day.
According to the WHO, 559,161 children—approximately 95% of those eligible at the governorate level—received the vaccine in the first round.
Additionally, vitamin A will be delivered alongside the polio vaccine to help boost overall immunity among children between the ages of two and nine years old.
A minimum of two doses of nOPV2 are needed to interrupt poliovirus transmission. However, this will only be achieved if at least 90% of all children are vaccinated in all communities and neighbourhoods.
This campaign is led by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), and other partners.
