UN Set to Launch Vital Polio Vaccine Campaign in Gaza

The United Nations is set to launch a vital polio vaccine campaign in Gaza for more than 640,000 children under the age of 10.

In recent weeks, the poliovirus has been detected in wastewater samples in Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah.

That means the virus is now circulating, with hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza at risk.”

He continued: “Polio does not care about dividing lines – and polio does not wait.

Preventing and containing the spread of polio will take a massive, coordinated and urgent effort.”

Also in this regard, he mentioned that the World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the release of 1.6 million doses of the polio vaccine.

Guterres further pointed out that in order to vaccinate 640,000 Palestinian children in Gaza, the UNRWA and other health workers on the ground will need to administer the shots in two rounds: “The vaccination effort will include 708 teams at hospitals and primary health care centres – many of which are barely functioning — and by 316 community outreach teams throughout Gaza.”

He concluded his statement by calling  on all parties to provide concrete assurances right away guaranteeing humanitarian pauses for the campaign.