Gaza Polio Vaccination Amid Strikes and Pauses

A polio vaccination campaign targeting 640,000 children under 10 has commenced in Gaza amid continued Israeli strikes, following the first local case of polio in 25 years. The UN has coordinated with Israel for limited pauses in fighting to facilitate the campaign, which requires two doses administered four weeks apart. Gaza's health infrastructure has been severely compromised by prolonged conflict, exacerbating the risk of a polio outbreak. Vaccinations began in central Gaza and will proceed to southern and northern regions, although challenges such as destroyed roads and displaced populations complicate the effort. The WHO has emphasized the need to vaccinate at least 90% of children to halt the virus's spread. Despite initial hesitations, many Gaza residents are participating in the campaign due to assurances of vaccine safety.