Overview

• The first phase of the Gaza polio vaccination campaign successfully vaccinated over 560,000 children under ten years old.
• The campaign, conducted from September 1-12, aimed to address the resurgence of polio following the detection of the virus in July 2024.
• Health workers faced significant challenges, including damaged infrastructure, displacement, and limited resources, but achieved 87% coverage of the target population.
• A second round of vaccinations is scheduled to take place in four weeks to ensure full immunity for the children.
• Humanitarian pauses facilitated by Israel allowed the campaign to proceed, highlighting the critical need for continued peace and cooperation.