Gaza polio vaccination drive resumes as Israel continues attacks
Al Jazeera
WHO says six people, including four children, injured in strike on polio vaccination centre in northern Gaza.
United Nations agencies have begun a new phase of a polio vaccination campaign for children in northern Gaza amid concerns that Israeli attacks and access constraints could make it impossible to reach some areas.
The UN’s agency for children (UNICEF) reported on Saturday that the vaccination campaign against the virus – which can paralyse or even kill children – resumed in northern Gaza after multiple delays “despite extremely harsh conditions”.
The first phase began in September and reached more than 560,000 children aged over one day old and under 10. Authorities are now trying to administer a second and final dose of the oral vaccine.
“This polio campaign is critical, but while we protect children with vaccines, they will continue to die and suffer each day until there is a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, which is needed more urgently than ever,” said UNRWA, the agency for Palestinian refugees.
The UN said the aim of the second-round campaign in the north is to inoculate an estimated 119,000 children, but “achieving this target is now unlikely due to access constraints”.
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