UN concerned about new polio vaccination in Gaza

Hundreds of crews have been put to work to finish vaccinating the around 590,000 children under 10 who received their first dose earlier this autumn. Like the first round, the vaccination is expected to take place in three different phases: first in Central Gaza, then in the south and then finally in the north.

Rik Peeperkorn, representative of the Palestinian territories in the World Health Organization (WHO), is confident that they will reach their goal, but is concerned about the tense situation in Gaza, especially in the north, where Israel has stepped up its attacks in recent weeks.

– The conditions on the ground are much more complicated this time, says Jean Gough in Unicef, in agreement with Peeperkorn.

It became known on Thursday that the UN has agreed with Israel on temporary and area-specific humanitarian pauses in the warfare in Gaza in order to carry out the vaccination. Gough emphasizes that she has confidence that the Israeli authorities will keep that promise.

– It worked last time, and we are sure it will work again, she says.

In August, the first polio case in Gaza in 25 years was confirmed. A ten-month-old infant was infected. To prevent an epidemic, the WHO began mass vaccination on 1 September.

Two vaccine doses must be given four weeks apart to prevent spread.