The Gaza Strip is set to launch an emergency mass polio vaccination campaign from February 22 to 26, 2025, in an effort to curb the ongoing transmission of poliovirus detected in recent environmental samples. The campaign will administer the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to over 591,000 children under the age of 10, aiming to boost immunity and prevent further infections.
Urgency of the Campaign
The decision to continue vaccinations follows the detection of poliovirus in wastewater samples from Deir al Balah and Khan Younis in December 2024 and January 2025, confirming that the virus is still circulating. Though no new polio cases have been reported since a ten-month-old child was paralyzed in August 2024, health officials warn that without continued immunization efforts, the virus could spread further.
The situation in Gaza’s overcrowded shelters and damaged sanitation infrastructure creates ideal conditions for poliovirus transmission, particularly via the fecal-oral route. The recent ceasefire has allowed for greater access to children in previously hard-to-reach areas, ensuring more widespread vaccine distribution.
Challenges and Previous Vaccination Efforts
In 2024, health workers conducted two successful vaccination rounds in September and October, reaching over 95% of the target population. However, during the second round, an estimated 7,000 children in central, north, and south Gaza missed their vaccines due to restricted access in conflict-affected areas like Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun.
The current campaign seeks to close immunity gaps, particularly among children who were previously unable to receive the vaccine. An additional polio vaccination round is planned for April 2025 to further strengthen immunity.
Collaboration for a Polio-Free Gaza
The initiative is being led by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, with crucial support from the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and other health partners.
Health experts emphasize that polio vaccines are safe, and there is no maximum number of doses a child can receive—each additional dose provides stronger protection against infection.
A Call for Lasting Peace
WHO, UNICEF, and their partners welcome the recent ceasefire and stress the importance of maintaining peace to ensure continued access to healthcare and immunization efforts. They urge all parties to prioritize long-term stability so that children in Gaza and beyond can grow up healthy and free from preventable diseases like polio.
Source: World Health Organization
