Second round of polio campaign in Gaza completed amid ongoing conflict and attacks: UNICEF and WHO

NEW YORK (November 6, 2024) - The second round of the polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip was completed yesterday, with an overall 556,774 children under the age of ten being vaccinated with a second dose of polio vaccine, and 448,425 children between two- and ten-years-old receiving Vitamin A, following the three phases conducted in the last weeks.

Administrative data confirms around 94 per cent of the target population of 591,714 children under the age of 10 years received their second dose of nOPV2 across the Gaza Strip, which is a remarkable achievement given the extremely difficult circumstances the campaign was executed under. The campaign achieved 103 per cent and 91 per cent coverage in central and southern Gaza respectively. However, in northern Gaza, where the campaign was compromised due to lack of access, approximately 88 per cent coverage was achieved according to preliminary data. An estimated 7,000-10,000 children in inaccessible areas like Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun remain unvaccinated and vulnerable to the poliovirus This also increases the risk of further spread of poliovirus in the Gaza Strip and neighboring countries.

The end of this second round concludes the polio vaccination campaign launched in September 2024. This round also took place in three phases across central, south and northern Gaza under area-specific humanitarian pauses. While the first two phases proceeded as planned, the third phase in northern Gaza had to be temporarily postponed on 23 October because of intense bombardments, mass displacements, lack of assured humanitarian pauses and access.

After careful assessment of the situation by the technical committee, comprising the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) the campaign resumed on 2 November. However, the area under the assured humanitarian pauses comprising the campaign was substantially reduced compared to the first round, as the access was limited to Gaza City. Due to hostilities, more than 150,000 people were forced to evacuate from North Gaza to Gaza City, which helped in accessing more children than anticipated.

Despite the challenges, and thanks to the tremendous dedication, engagement and courage of parents, children, communities and health workers, the phase in northern Gaza was completed.

At least two doses and a minimum of 90% vaccination coverage are needed in each community to stop the circulation of the polio strain affecting Gaza. Efforts will now continue to boost immunity levels through routine immunization services offered at functional health facilities and to strengthen disease surveillance to rapidly detect any further poliovirus transmission (either in affected children or in environmental samples). The evolving epidemiology will determine if further outbreak response may be necessary.

To fully implement surveillance and routine immunization services, not just for polio but for all vaccine-preventable diseases, WHO and UNICEF continue to call for a ceasefire. Further, apart from the attack on the primary health-care center, the campaign underscores what can be achieved with humanitarian pauses These actions must be systematically applied beyond the polio emergency response efforts to other health and humanitarian interventions to respond to dire needs.

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Notes to editors:

The polio campaign, being conducted by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), and other partners, was part of emergency efforts to stop a polio outbreak in Gaza, which was detected on 16 July 2024, and to prevent further spread of poliovirus.

Since July 2024, circulating variant poliovirus type 2 has been confirmed in Gaza in 11 environmental samples and in a 10-month-old paralyzed child (in August 2024.)

More information on the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and regular updates on the outbreak response campaign, are available here.

Multimedia materials available here: https://weshare.unicef.org/Package/2AM4080FDL1J

About UNICEF
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to pursue a more equitable world for every child. UNICEF has helped save more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more.

UNICEF USA advances the global mission of UNICEF by rallying the American public to support the world's most vulnerable children. Together, we are working toward a world that upholds the rights of all children and helps every child thrive. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

For more information please contact:
Jenna Buraczenski, UNICEF USA, (917) 720-1432, [email protected]

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