WHO Chief Expresses Concern Over Limited Time for Polio Vaccination Campaign in Gaza
'Vaccination coverage will be monitored throughout the campaign, and it has been agreed that vaccination will be extended by one day wherever necessary,' Tedros says
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On Friday, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed concerns regarding the upcoming polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, stating that the allotted time may be insufficient to achieve the necessary immunization coverage. The campaign, which targets children under the age of 10, is set to commence on Sunday and will span three days in each of Gaza's designated areas: central, south, and north. Humanitarian pauses will be implemented during the distribution of the vaccine.
Tedros highlighted the challenges posed by insecurity, damaged infrastructure, and the displacement of the population, indicating that three days per area may not suffice for effective coverage. "Vaccination coverage will be monitored throughout the campaign, and it has been agreed that vaccination will be extended by one day wherever necessary," he noted during a press briefing.
He also emphasized the importance of ensuring that vaccination teams are safe and able to carry out their work, urging all parties involved to protect both health facilities and children. Tedros underscored the necessity of a cease-fire as the ultimate solution to safeguard the health of Gaza's children, while welcoming the humanitarian pauses.
Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territories, provided additional insights during a UN briefing earlier in the day. He revealed that the campaign aims to administer two drops of the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to over 640,000 children under 10. Peeperkorn detailed that 1.26 million vaccine doses and 500 vaccine carriers have already reached Gaza, with an additional 400,000 doses expected soon.
Moreover, he reported that more than 2,180 health workers and community outreach personnel have been trained to facilitate vaccinations and inform local communities about the initiative. Peeperkorn reiterated the critical need for at least 90% vaccination coverage during each round of the campaign to effectively halt the outbreak and prevent the spread of polio on an international scale.
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