WHO Postpones Polio Vaccination Campaign in Gaza Due to Escalating Violence

The World Health Organization (WHO) has decided to postpone the third phase of the polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip, which was scheduled for Wednesday, due to a concerning escalation of violence in the region.

The international agency indicated that intense bombardments and the lack of humanitarian pauses have created an unsustainable environment for carrying out the vaccination, which aimed to immunize 119,279 children in northern Gaza.

In a statement, WHO emphasized that interrupting the program poses a serious public health risk, as at least 90% of children need to be vaccinated to halt the transmission of the poliovirus.

The campaign, involving the Palestinian Ministry of Health and organizations like UNICEF and UNRWA, had successfully vaccinated 442,855 children under ten in central and southern Gaza since October 14, achieving 94% of its target in those areas.

 WHO underscored the critical need for effective humanitarian pauses to ensure access to vaccination for vulnerable children.

The international community is being urged to intervene and facilitate necessary humanitarian access to urgently resume this vital public health campaign.