Two rounds of a polio vaccination campaign are set to be launched at the end of August and September 2024 across the Gaza Strip in a concerted effort to prevent the spread of circulating variant type 2 poliovirus (cVDPV2). The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have called on all parties in the conflict to implement humanitarian pauses in the fighting for seven days to allow for the successful implementation of these vaccination campaigns.
The need for these pauses in the conflict is crucial as it would allow children and families to safely reach health facilities and for community outreach workers to reach children who may not have easy access to health facilities for polio vaccination. Without the humanitarian pauses, the delivery of the campaign will be severely hindered, putting the health of many children at risk.
During each round of the campaign, the Palestinian Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, UNRWA, and other partners, will provide two drops of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to over 640,000 children under the age of ten. This is a critical intervention as the poliovirus was detected in environmental samples from Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah in July 2024 and three children have since presented with symptoms of acute flaccid paralysis, a common sign of polio.
In preparation for the vaccination campaign, over 1.6 million doses of nOPV2 will be delivered to the Gaza Strip. The vaccines and cold chain equipment are expected to pass through Ben Gurion Airport before reaching the Gaza Strip by the end of August. It is imperative that the transport of these vaccines is facilitated to ensure their timely delivery for the campaign.
The campaign will involve 708 teams of health workers administering vaccinations at hospitals, field hospitals, and health centers in each municipality across the Gaza Strip. Approximately 2700 health workers, including mobile teams and community outreach workers, will be involved in supporting the delivery of both rounds of the campaign. It is essential to achieve at least 95% vaccination coverage during each round to effectively prevent the spread of polio.
Apart from the vaccination campaign, efforts are also underway to strengthen and expand poliovirus surveillance and routine immunization in the Gaza Strip. The region had previously maintained a high level of vaccination coverage until the conflict in October 2023 disrupted routine immunization, leading to a drop in coverage from 99% in 2022 to less than 90% in the first quarter of 2024.
The reemergence of poliovirus in the Gaza Strip poses a significant threat to public health, not only within the region but also internationally. Given the disruptions in routine vaccination, damaged health systems, and ongoing conflicts, the risk of the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases remains high. A ceasefire is crucial to ensure public health security in the Gaza Strip and neighboring regions.
In conclusion, the upcoming polio vaccination campaigns in the Gaza Strip are vital to prevent the spread of cVDPV2 and protect the health of children in the region. It is imperative that all parties involved in the conflict cooperate to ensure the successful implementation of these campaigns and safeguard the well-being of vulnerable populations.
