Israel Approves Humanitarian Pause for Polio Vaccination in Gaza: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Israel has agreed to a humanitarian pause to facilitate a mass polio vaccination campaign in Gaza. The initiative, set to begin on September 1, will involve temporary pauses in hostilities to allow for the vaccination of children.

Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, head of the WHO office for the West Bank and Gaza, confirmed that the vaccination campaign will start on September 1. The campaign, coordinated by WHO in partnership with UNRWA and UNICEF, aims to vaccinate over 640,000 children in Gaza through two rounds of vaccination.

The United Nations News Service posted on social media that Dr. Peeperkorn emphasized the importance of achieving at least 90 percent coverage in both rounds of the campaign. The WHO and its partners are working to ensure that the campaign can be conducted effectively during these humanitarian pauses.

According to another update from the UN News Service, discussions with Israeli authorities have resulted in an agreement for three-day humanitarian pauses. The post highlighted that while the situation is not ideal, these pauses represent a workable solution to facilitate the vaccination efforts. The WHO stressed that all parties involved must adhere to the agreed pauses to ensure the success of the campaign.

The need for this vaccination campaign arose following the detection of the poliovirus in environmental samples from Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah in July 2024. Additionally, three children with suspected acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), a symptom commonly associated with polio, have been reported in the Gaza Strip.

Polio, a highly contagious virus typically spread through contaminated water or food, can lead to severe health complications including paralysis, respiratory issues, and death. Although many countries have eradicated polio, the virus persists in areas with inadequate sanitation and sewage infrastructure.