Israel has consented to a series of “humanitarian pauses” in Gaza aimed at facilitating the vaccination of children against polio, as confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The initiative targets approximately 640,000 children and is set to commence on Sunday, according to a senior WHO official.
The vaccination campaign will unfold in three phases throughout the central, southern, and northern regions of Gaza. During each phase, hostilities will cease for three consecutive days from 06:00 to 15:00 local time to enable the vaccination efforts.
This agreement follows alarming reports from UN officials regarding a 10-month-old infant who suffered partial paralysis after contracting Gaza’s first polio case in 25 years. Currently, around 1.26 million doses of the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 are available in Gaza, with an additional 400,000 doses expected to arrive shortly.
The vaccination operations will be conducted by UN personnel and trained local health workers, with over 2,000 individuals prepared to administer the vaccine. A spokesperson for the UN in Gaza has urged for a ceasefire to ensure the vaccination programme can proceed securely.
The spokesperson emphasized that conducting vaccinations amid ongoing military operations poses serious risks to children’s safety and well-being. Children will receive two oral doses this week, with a follow-up vaccination scheduled for four weeks later. The WHO aims to achieve a 90% vaccination coverage rate in Gaza, essential for halting virus transmission.
An agreement also allows for an additional fourth day of vaccination and humanitarian pauses, if required, to meet this vital immunization target. Poliovirus spreads easily through contaminated water and sewage, primarily affecting children under five, and can lead to severe health complications, including paralysis and death.
Before the conflict, immunization rates in Gaza and the occupied West Bank were optimal, standing at 99% in 2022 but declining to 89% recently. In a related move, the Israeli military announced it had begun vaccinating its soldiers against polio earlier this year.
A Hamas official expressed readiness to collaborate with international organizations to ensure the safety of the vaccination campaign for over 650,000 Palestinian children in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified that the humanitarian pauses are not to be regarded as an official ceasefire.
The UK’s deputy permanent representative to the UN welcomed the vaccination plan and emphasized the necessity for sufficient pauses to achieve the required coverage. Additionally, advocates have called for all children, including those currently held hostages, to be included in the vaccination efforts.
Since the onset of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following a Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in about 1,200 fatalities and numerous hostages, the humanitarian crisis has escalated significantly, with over 40,530 lives lost in Gaza according to local health authorities.
