Gaza Achieves 90% Polio Vaccination Coverage with Over 282,000 Doses Administered

Gaza's efforts to combat polio have achieved significant success, with approximately 90% of the population vaccinated against the highly infectious viral disease during the first quarter of 2024. This milestone was announced by IDF International Spokesperson Nadav Shoshani on X (formerly Twitter), citing data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The vaccination campaign in Gaza has been crucial, as polio predominantly affects children and can spread through contaminated food, water, or direct contact with an infected person. The campaign's success reflects a robust response to the outbreak, which was first reported in the Gaza Strip in July.

Shoshani highlighted the role of the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which facilitated the entry of 282,126 vials of the polio vaccine into Gaza. This quantity is sufficient to administer 2,821,260 doses, ensuring broad coverage across the population. Since the outbreak began, an additional 9,000 vials were transferred through the Kerem Shalom Crossing, further supporting the ongoing vaccination efforts.

In a follow-up statement, Shoshani revealed plans for an additional 43,250 vials tailored to combat the specific strain of the virus found in Gaza’s environmental samples. These vials are expected to arrive in Israel shortly and will be transported to Gaza, providing enough doses to vaccinate over one million children with two doses each.

COGAT continues to collaborate closely with the Israeli Health Ministry, WHO, and UNICEF to monitor the situation and assess the effectiveness of the vaccination campaign. USAID has also played a vital role in supporting the implementation of the vaccination drive among Gaza's civilian population.

In addition to the civilian efforts, the IDF has undertaken a significant vaccination operation for its soldiers stationed in the Gaza Strip. Launched in late July, this campaign provided over 300,000 polio vaccines to soldiers and civilians alike, in response to the detection of the virus in Gaza’s sewage system.

The successful vaccination campaign in Gaza is a testament to the coordinated efforts between international health organizations, the IDF, and various humanitarian agencies, ensuring that the region's children are protected from this debilitating disease.

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