The first phase of the campaign against polio has been successfully completed in Gaza

Over 187,000 children under the age of ten were vaccinated with the new oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) in central Gaza during the first phase of a two-round polio vaccination campaign, conducted between September 1 and 3, 2024. Vaccinations in this phase exceeded an initial estimated target of 157,000 children due to population movement towards central Gaza and expanded coverage in areas outside the humanitarian ceasefire zone.

To ensure that no child is missed in this area, polio vaccinations will continue in four major health facilities in central Gaza over the next few days. Vaccine doses were delivered to these locations to meet any additional needs.

“It has been extremely encouraging to see thousands of children accessing polio vaccines, supported by their resilient families and brave health workers, despite the dire conditions they have faced over the past 11 months. All parties have respected the humanitarian pause and we hope that this positive momentum will continue,” said Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The first phase of the campaign was carried out by 513 teams, made up of over 2180 health and outreach workers in the community. Vaccination was provided at 143 fixed locations, including hospitals, medical posts, primary health care centers, camps where displaced people live, key public gathering places such as temporary learning spaces, food and water distribution points, and transit routes leading from the central towards northern and southern Gaza. In addition, mobile teams visited tents and hard-to-reach areas to ensure they reached families who could not visit fixed locations. The presence of significant numbers of children eligible for vaccination who could not reach vaccination sites due to insecurity necessitated special missions in Al-Maghazi, Al-Bureij and Al-Mussader – areas just outside the agreed humanitarian pause zone.

Preparations are underway to launch the next phase of the campaign, which will take place in southern Gaza from 5 to 8 September 2024, targeting an estimated 340,000 children under the age of ten. About 517 teams will be deployed, including 384 mobile teams. Almost 300 community outreach workers have already started with families in southern Gaza to raise awareness of the campaign, while 490 vaccine carriers, 90 cooler boxes and other supplies have been flown to Khan Younis for distribution to vaccination sites.

The third and final phase of the polio vaccination campaign will be conducted in northern Gaza from September 9 to 11, 2024, targeting around 150,000 children.

At least 90% vaccination coverage during each round of the campaign is needed to stop the epidemic, prevent the international spread of polio and reduce the risk of its re-emergence, given the severely disrupted health, water and sanitation systems in the Gaza Strip. Vaccination will be monitored throughout the campaign, and vaccinations will be extended if necessary to meet coverage targets as part of flexible strategies to ensure that every eligible child receives their dose of vaccine.

The two-round campaign, carried out by the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MOH), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and many partners, aims to ensure two drops of nOPV2 to about 640,000 children during each round.

“The successful implementation of the first phase of the campaign in central Gaza is the culmination of tremendous coordination between various partners, including the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and donors, and underscores the importance of peace for the health and well-being of the population of Gaza. The people of Gaza call on all parties to continue to fulfill their commitment humanitarian breaks because the second phase of the campaign starts tomorrow,” said Dr. Peeperkorn.

Notes to editors

• The campaign is part of an urgent response to prevent the spread of polio after a circulating variant of poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) was discovered in Gaza, 25 years after polio was free. cVDPV2 was detected in six environmental – or wastewater – samples collected from central Gaza in June 2024. Gaza reported four cases of children with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), including one case of confirmed polio in a child who tested positive for the circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). Two of the reported cases were negative for poliovirus. Laboratory findings of samples from the fourth AFP case are awaited.

• The new oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) is a polio vaccine that is used to stop the transmission of variant poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), currently the most common variant form of poliovirus.

• nOPV2 is safe and effective and offers protection against paralysis and community transmission. It is the vaccine recommended globally for outbreaks of poliovirus type 2 – the type found in recent samples from Gaza.