First section of polio marketing campaign concludes efficiently in Gaza

Over 187 000 youngsters below ten years of age have been vaccinated with novel oral polio vaccine sort 2 (nOPV2) in central Gaza throughout the first section of a two-round polio vaccination marketing campaign, performed between 1–3 September 2024. Vaccination protection on this section exceeded the preliminary estimated goal of 157 000 youngsters on account of inhabitants motion in direction of central Gaza, and expanded protection in areas exterior the humanitarian pause zone.  

To make sure no youngster is missed on this space, polio vaccination will proceed at 4 giant well being services in central Gaza over the following few days. Vaccine doses have been provided to those websites to fulfill any extra wants. 

“It has been extraordinarily encouraging to see 1000’s of kids with the ability to entry polio vaccines, with the help of their resilient households and brave well being employees, regardless of the deplorable circumstances they’ve braved over the past 11 months. All events revered the humanitarian pause and we hope to see this optimistic momentum proceed,” mentioned Dr Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Consultant for the occupied Palestinian territory.

The primary section of the marketing campaign was performed by 513 groups, consisting of over 2180 well being and neighborhood outreach employees. Vaccination was supplied at 143 fastened websites, together with hospitals, medical factors, main care centres, camps the place displaced individuals are dwelling, key public gathering areas corresponding to non permanent studying areas, meals and water distribution factors, and transit routes main from central in direction of northern and southern Gaza. Moreover, cellular groups visited tents and laborious to-reach areas to make sure they reached households who have been unable to go to fastened websites. The presence of a considerable variety of youngsters eligible for vaccination who have been unable to achieve vaccination websites on account of insecurity, necessitated particular missions to Al-Maghazi, Al-Bureij and Al-Mussader – areas simply exterior of the agreed zone for the humanitarian pause.  

Preparations are underway to roll out the following section of the marketing campaign, which shall be performed in southern Gaza from 5–8 September 2024, concentrating on an estimated 340 000 youngsters under ten years of age. Some 517 groups, together with 384 cellular groups, shall be deployed. Practically 300 neighborhood outreach employees have already begun outreach to households in southern Gaza to boost consciousness in regards to the marketing campaign, whereas 490 vaccine carriers, 90 chilly storage packing containers, and different provides have been transferred to Khan Younis for distribution to vaccination websites. 

The third and final section of the polio vaccination marketing campaign shall be applied in northern Gaza from 9–11 September 2024, concentrating on round 150 000 youngsters.  

At the least 90% vaccination protection throughout every spherical of the marketing campaign is required to cease the outbreak, stop the worldwide unfold of polio and cut back the danger of its re-emergence, given the severely disrupted well being, water and sanitation programs within the Gaza Strip. Vaccination protection shall be monitored all through the marketing campaign, and, when vital, vaccinations shall be prolonged to fulfill protection targets as a part of versatile methods to make sure each eligible youngster receives their vaccine dose. 

The 2-round marketing campaign, being performed by the Palestinian Ministry of Well being (MOH), in collaboration with the World Well being Group (WHO) and United Nations Kids Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Reduction and Works Company for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and lots of companions, goals to supply two drops of nOPV2 to round 640 000 youngsters throughout every spherical. 

“The profitable supply of the primary section of the marketing campaign in central Gaza is a fruits of immense coordination amongst numerous companions, together with the International Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and donors, and underscores the significance of peace for the well being and well-being of individuals in Gaza. We name on all events to proceed fulfilling their dedication to the humanitarian pauses because the second section of the marketing campaign begins tomorrow,” mentioned Dr Peeperkorn. 

Notes to editors 

• The marketing campaign is a part of an pressing response to stop the unfold of polio after circulating variant poliovirus sort 2 (cVDPV2) was detected in Gaza, after 25 years of being polio-free. cVDPV2 has been detected in six environmental samples – or wastewater – collected from central Gaza in June 2024. Gaza has reported 4 instances of kids with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), together with one case of confirmed polio in a baby who examined optimistic for circulating variant poliovirus sort 2 (cVDPV2). Two of the reported instances examined detrimental for poliovirus. Laboratory outcomes are pending on samples from the fourth AFP case.  

• Novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) is a polio vaccine getting used to cease transmission of variant poliovirus sort 2 (cVDPV2), at present essentially the most prevalent type of the variant poliovirus. 

• nOPV2 is secure and efficient and affords safety in opposition to paralysis and neighborhood transmission. It’s the vaccine globally really helpful for variant sort 2 poliovirus outbreaks – the kind that has been discovered within the current samples from Gaza.