Polio: Over 591,000 children to be vaccinated for second round in Gaza

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said the second round of an emergency polio vaccination campaign is scheduled to start on 14 October 2024 in Gaza.

According to the publication made by the Agency on Saturday, revealing that with an estimated 591,700 children under ten years of age will get the second dose of the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) vaccine.

According to the Agency, “As with the first round, the second round will’ve three phases, each involving three campaign days and one catch-up day. A minimum of two doses of nOPV2 are needed to interrupt poliovirus transmission.
This will follows the first round, which was successfully implemented from 1st to 12th September 2024 and vaccinated 559 161 children, or an estimated 95% of eligible children at governorate level, according to independently conducted post-campaign monitoring.

It stated that two doses to interrupt the transmission can only be achieved if at least 90% of all children are vaccinated adding that this round, vitamin A will be co-administered alongside polio vaccine, to help boost overall immunity among children between the ages of two and nine years.

The Agency said this campaign is being conducted by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Also, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), and other partners, as part of emergency efforts to stop the polio outbreak in Gaza, which was detected on 16 July 2024, and prevent further spread of poliovirus.

“Once again, meticulous planning, coordination and implementation will see an extensive network of teams vaccinating at selected health facilities and outreach posts. Mobile teams actively reach out to families living in shelters, tents and camps for internally displaced people.

“Also, local teams will be deployed in areas that need special coordination to reach children, including those who could not receive vaccine in the first round”.

The Agency who recalled that the first round demonstrated overwhelming logistical challenges which includes operating amid devastated infrastructure.
Said constant population movements can be overcome through an extraordinarily resilient and dedicated health workforce and strong community demand for polio vaccination, if all parties respect the planned humanitarian pauses.

It said further that more than 800 social mobilizers will reach out to families to raise awareness on the importance of taking the second dose as well as on the dates and locations.

“Radio spots, short message services (SMS) and all digital channels available in Gaza will also amplify these messages. This outreach will continue until the round concludes.  

“Additionally, logistical and programmatic needs, such as training health, community workers, provision of adequate supplies, recording of data by independent monitors, and demarcation of areas being covered by mobile teams, have been streamlined for the second round.

WHO revealed further that to cover the two rounds, 1.6 million doses of the vaccines were delivered in past two months as well as 20 refrigerators, 10 freezers, 100 ice boxes, and 800 vaccine carriers, all equipment required to maintain vaccines at a temperature between 2 and 8°C.
The Agency urged for a humanitarian pause, stating that this will be a pre-requisite to implementing a successful second round, particularly to ensure all polio workers can operate in a safe and secure environment, and communities and families can obtain vaccination for children without fear.

“A substantial constraint to the polio campaign will again be reaching children living in areas outside humanitarian pauses , who were not covered in the last round.

“This requires coordination and approvals to allow programme supervision, monitoring, which would contribute significantly to ensuring all children, regardless of their location, are vaccinated”, the Agency said.

Both WHO and UNICEF renewed their urgent request to parties to conflict to implement the necessary humanitarian pauses in Gaza for this second round. 

“This is particularly critical as new evacuation orders in the north of Gaza are threatening access to hospitals, protection of health facilities and health and community workers.

“Vaccination teams must be protected and allowed to conduct the campaigns safely. We urge all parties to ensure their protection, and that of health facilities and children”, the Agency stated.