Gaza health authorities launch massive polio vaccination campaign

Aug. 31 (UPI) -- The Gaza Health Ministry began its polio vaccination campaign Saturday to immunize more than 90% children under age 10 throughout the embattled Palestinian enclave.

The polio vaccination campaign started in Khan Younis with a projected ending date of Sept. 12 for all Gazan children.

The World Health Organization, UNICEF and the United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees started the vaccinations at Nasser Hospital after announcing the immunization campaign in a joint press conference.

The campaign will target children in central Gaza from Sept. 1-4 followed by Khan Younis Sept. 5-9 and in Gaza City and Gaza's northern areas Sept. 9-12.

The war between Hamas and Israel, which started when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, has created shortages of food, medical supplies and clean water and raised the potential for the outbreaks of diseases, such as polio.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Aug. 16 requested a seven-day cease-fire to support the polio-vaccination campaign.

UNRWA intends to immunize more than 640,000 children in Gaza after Israel agreed to pause fighting in areas where the polio-vaccination campaign are underway.

The need to immunize Gaza's children became apparent when a 10-month-old child tested positive for polio in July, which was the first known case in Gaza in 25 years.

Testing done in June on sewage samples also confirmed the presence of polio in the Gaza Strip.

Gaza had nearly complete polio vaccination of citizens prior to the war, but the conflict has caused the vaccination rate to fall below 90%.

Children under age 3 are especially vulnerable to polio, which can cause paralysis and death.

The disease is highly contagious, has no known cure and only can be eradicated through vaccinations.

Although Israeli officials agreed to pausing the conflict in areas where the vaccinations are underway, several aid agencies reported Israel Defense Forces struck their convoys.

A charity said an airstrike on one aid vehicle killed several transportation company workers.

IDF officials said they only targeted armed militants who had taken control of the vehicle.

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported more than 40,600 Gazans have died since Oct. 7 but does not distinguish between militants and civilians.