The World Health Organization is intensifying its efforts to combat a polio outbreak in Gaza by planning to distribute 1.2 million vaccines after detecting the virus in the area’s wastewater. The vaccination campaign targets 600,000 children under the age of eight, with the first round set to begin Aug. 17.
Despite these efforts, significant challenges persist. The Gaza Health Ministry declared a polio epidemic in the region last month, but with only a few hospitals operational and strict movement restrictions in place, distributing vaccines door-to-door is exceptionally difficult.
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WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called for a temporary cease-fire to allow “absolute freedom of movement,” which is crucial for ensuring the vaccines reach those most in need without delay.
“In Gaza, the detection of polio in wastewater indicates the virus has been circulating, putting unvaccinated children at significant risk,” Tedros said. “We are not only distributing vaccines but also strengthening routine immunization and disease surveillance. For these operations to succeed, we urgently need unimpeded access for health workers and their equipment.”
Tedros also highlighted the dire public health conditions such as overcrowding, destroyed sewage systems, and a lack of clean water, creating an ideal breeding ground for the poliovirus.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has begun vaccinating its soldiers as a precautionary measure, though WHO reports no clinical cases of polio have been found so far.
