Polio Resurgence in Gaza Prompts Mass Vaccination Campaign Amid Ongoing Conflict
Detection of poliovirus in Gaza's wastewater leads to renewed immunization efforts targeting over half a million children under ten.
In response to the re-emergence of poliovirus in the Gaza Strip, health authorities are set to launch a mass vaccination campaign from February 22 to 26, 2025, aiming to immunize approximately 591,000 children under the age of ten.
This initiative follows the detection of poliovirus in wastewater samples collected in December 2024 and January 2025, indicating ongoing environmental circulation and potential risk to unvaccinated children.
The Gaza Strip had been polio-free for 25 years until a 10-month-old child was diagnosed with paralytic polio in August 2024. Subsequent vaccination efforts in September and October 2024 successfully reached over 95 percent of the targeted child population.
However, intensified hostilities in northern regions, particularly in areas like Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun, rendered some locations inaccessible, leaving approximately 7,000 children without the necessary second vaccine dose.
The recent ceasefire, effective since January 19, 2025, has improved access for health workers, facilitating the upcoming vaccination drive.
Despite this, the current conditions in Gaza—including overcrowding in shelters, severely damaged water and sanitation infrastructure, and extensive population movements—create an environment conducive to the spread of poliovirus.
Health agencies emphasize the importance of vaccinating all eligible children, noting that administering multiple doses poses no risk and enhances immunity, which is crucial during an active outbreak.
The ongoing conflict has significantly disrupted routine immunization programs, with vaccination coverage dropping from over 99 percent prior to October 2023 to less than 90 percent by early 2024. The destruction of healthcare facilities and impediments to humanitarian aid have further exacerbated the public health crisis, underscoring the urgency of comprehensive vaccination campaigns to prevent further spread of the virus.
This initiative follows the detection of poliovirus in wastewater samples collected in December 2024 and January 2025, indicating ongoing environmental circulation and potential risk to unvaccinated children.
The Gaza Strip had been polio-free for 25 years until a 10-month-old child was diagnosed with paralytic polio in August 2024. Subsequent vaccination efforts in September and October 2024 successfully reached over 95 percent of the targeted child population.
However, intensified hostilities in northern regions, particularly in areas like Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun, rendered some locations inaccessible, leaving approximately 7,000 children without the necessary second vaccine dose.
The recent ceasefire, effective since January 19, 2025, has improved access for health workers, facilitating the upcoming vaccination drive.
Despite this, the current conditions in Gaza—including overcrowding in shelters, severely damaged water and sanitation infrastructure, and extensive population movements—create an environment conducive to the spread of poliovirus.
Health agencies emphasize the importance of vaccinating all eligible children, noting that administering multiple doses poses no risk and enhances immunity, which is crucial during an active outbreak.
The ongoing conflict has significantly disrupted routine immunization programs, with vaccination coverage dropping from over 99 percent prior to October 2023 to less than 90 percent by early 2024. The destruction of healthcare facilities and impediments to humanitarian aid have further exacerbated the public health crisis, underscoring the urgency of comprehensive vaccination campaigns to prevent further spread of the virus.