Gaza Begins Polio Vaccination Amid Ceasefire

A massive polio vaccination campaign has begun in Gaza, led by the United Nations and Palestinian health authorities, after the first polio case in 25 years was confirmed. Israel and Hamas have agreed to brief humanitarian pauses in the ongoing conflict to facilitate the vaccination of 640,000 children under the age of 10. The campaign, which started on September 1, 2024, will focus initially on central Gaza before moving to northern and southern areas. Health workers face significant challenges due to devastated infrastructure and ongoing fighting. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the urgency of the campaign, noting that at least 90% of children need to be vaccinated twice to prevent a wider outbreak. The effort underscores the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where routine healthcare has been severely disrupted by the conflict.