Polio Outbreak in Gaza: Causes and Vaccination Efforts
- An international vaccination campaign in Gaza aimed to immunize children against polio, with nearly 560,000 receiving doses by mid-September 2023.
- The campaign is crucial for achieving herd immunity, targeting at least 90% vaccination coverage among children under 10 years old.
- Success in this vaccination effort is vital not only for local children but also for preventing the spread of polio to neighboring regions and globally.
In September 2023, Gaza launched an international campaign to vaccinate children against polio, with nearly 560,000 children receiving their initial doses. This effort comes amid ongoing humanitarian challenges due to wartime conditions, which have complicated healthcare delivery in the region. Independent monitors are currently assessing the vaccination coverage to ensure that the campaign meets the critical target of 90% for herd immunity among children aged 10 and younger. The urgency of this campaign is underscored by the fact that a related strain of the virus was last detected in Egypt and is believed to have crossed into Gaza. The majority of polio infections are asymptomatic, but those who do exhibit symptoms may mistake them for common illnesses, making it difficult to identify cases early. Children born after the disruption of Gaza's healthcare system are particularly vulnerable to paralysis from the virus. The oral polio vaccine (OPV) used in this campaign has unique advantages, including eliciting a strong immune response and facilitating community-wide immunity through the transmission of the weakened virus. However, the rise of vaccine-derived polio cases has prompted the use of a new vaccine, novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), to mitigate risks associated with OPV. The success of this vaccination campaign is critical not only for the health of children in Gaza but also for global public health, as polio eradication efforts are interconnected across regions. Continued peace and stability are essential for achieving the campaign's goals and preventing further outbreaks.