The final phase of a vital polio vaccination campaign restarted in northern Gaza this Saturday, as announced by the World Health Organization (WHO). Originally scheduled for October, the second stage was postponed due to severe humanitarian conditions, including continuous bombardments, mass displacement, and restricted access. The vaccination program, which was launched following the first case of polio reported in Gaza in 25 years, aims to prevent further spread of this debilitating disease after a young child was tragically left paralyzed from the infection.
The decision to resume vaccinations comes as a collective response to growing concerns voiced by the WHO and over 15 humanitarian organizations, who have described the current situation in northern Gaza as “apocalyptic.” These groups report that conditions in the region, where conflict has surged since October, present urgent health risks to the population, especially to the vulnerable, such as young children.
Due to a temporary humanitarian ceasefire, the vaccination campaign is set to run for three days. However, despite this limited pause, approximately 15,000 children under 10 years old across key northern Gaza towns—including Jabalia, Beit Lahia, and Beit Hanoun—will likely miss this critical immunization due to accessibility issues. The WHO has stated that these missed children pose a substantial setback to the campaign’s overall effectiveness.
Initially, the WHO set a goal to provide a second dose of oral polio vaccine to 119,000 children within Gaza. This second dose is crucial for comprehensive protection and halting polio transmission, as achieving a minimum of 90% immunization coverage is essential. However, restrictions on movement and access to northern Gaza make achieving this goal increasingly challenging.
The first stage of the polio campaign, conducted from September 1 to September 12, successfully reached 559,000 children under 10 across southern, central, and northern Gaza. This was made possible through coordinated humanitarian pauses, temporarily allowing access to affected areas. However, in this second phase, the region covered by the ceasefire is significantly smaller, limiting vaccinations to Gaza City and excluding many other areas previously accessible.
Medical experts caution that delays in administering the second dose could weaken efforts to prevent polio from spreading. Polio, a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease, requires timely immunization to ensure long-term immunity and disease control.
The dire conditions in northern Gaza are further compounded by ongoing conflicts, which have led to large-scale evacuations. More than 100,000 people have reportedly fled northern Gaza for safety in Gaza City, yet face deteriorating living conditions marked by severe shortages in food, water, and healthcare resources. The joint statement from WHO and other UN agencies highlights an urgent need for comprehensive humanitarian aid to avert disease outbreaks and famine.
In a statement, the US has urged Israel to ensure increased humanitarian support in Gaza, stressing the necessity of immediate action. Since the conflict intensified on October 7, following an attack by Hamas in southern Israel, the humanitarian toll has escalated, with thousands of lives lost and extensive devastation reported in the region. The resumption of this vaccination campaign is one step toward protecting children from further harm amid a continuing crisis, but substantial challenges remain.
The WHO, alongside international health and aid agencies, continues to monitor and address the unfolding health risks in Gaza, working under extreme conditions to deliver critical care where possible.