Baby in Gaza contracts polio after 25 years

In a significant public health initiative, over 1.6 million doses of the vaccine against poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) are set to be delivered to Gaza for an immunization campaign targeting more than 640,000 children under the age of 10. The campaign will unfold in two rounds, commencing on August 31 and concluding in early October. Essential refrigeration equipment for the vaccines has already entered Gaza, with the vials expected to arrive shortly via Tel Aviv. UNICEF has emphasized the urgency of the campaign, noting that a vaccination coverage of 95% is necessary to effectively combat the virus. However, the ongoing conflict poses significant challenges, as humanitarian workers require safe access to the children in need of vaccination. The UN has called for a humanitarian ceasefire to facilitate the campaign, although Israel has only committed to "facilitating" the immunization efforts without a formal pause in hostilities. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with a reported decline in vaccination rates from 99% in 2022 to just 80% since the onset of the current conflict. The re-emergence of poliovirus after 25 years highlights the chaotic conditions faced by families, many of whom have been displaced multiple times due to ongoing violence. UN Secretary General António Guterres has warned that hundreds of thousands of children are at risk, stressing the need for safe transport of vaccines and the entry of health experts into the region. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, UNICEF's Executive Director has described the resurgence of polio as a sobering reminder of the precarious situation in Gaza, where the health and safety of both children and healthcare workers are at stake.