The Gaza Strip has faced unprecedented health challenges in recent years, with political and humanitarian crises exacerbating the region’s vulnerability. One of the most alarming public health issues that arose in 2024 was the resurgence of polio, a disease that had not been seen in Gaza for more than two decades. The World Health Organization (WHO), alongside local health authorities, launched a targeted polio vaccination drive, and their efforts have borne fruit, as recent reports reveal that over 600,000 children under the age of 10 were successfully vaccinated during a recent campaign. This breakthrough is especially significant given the volatile situation in Gaza, and it marks an important step in the region’s battle against polio.
The Resurgence of Polio in Gaza
Polio, a viral disease that primarily affects children under five years of age, is known to cause severe complications such as paralysis and even death. Its transmission is often facilitated by poor sanitation and contaminated water sources. For more than 20 years, Gaza had remained free of polio, but a breakthrough case involving a 10-month-old child in August 2024 raised alarm. The child was paralyzed by the disease, triggering an immediate public health response.
The situation took a further turn when environmental samples collected in Gaza in December 2024 and January 2025 revealed that the poliovirus was still circulating. These findings demonstrated that the initial vaccination campaigns, conducted in September and October 2024, had not fully eliminated the virus. While the earlier rounds of vaccination reached more than 95% of the targeted population, the persistence of the virus underscored the need for continued vigilance and additional vaccination efforts.
The Ceasefire and Its Role in Enabling Vaccination Campaigns
One of the key factors that facilitated the success of this latest vaccination campaign was the ceasefire that began between Israel and Hamas on January 19, 2025. This temporary halt in hostilities allowed humanitarian aid, including health interventions, to flow more freely into Gaza. The ceasefire created an environment in which vaccination teams could access previously unreachable areas, particularly those where children had been missed in earlier rounds due to population movements or ongoing insecurity.
WHO’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reported that the new campaign reached 602,795 children under 10, a remarkable achievement considering the challenges on the ground. The campaign was executed with the help of 1,600 vaccination teams and more than 1,200 “social mobilizers” who spread awareness about the importance of vaccination and mobilized families to bring their children to vaccination centers.
Overcoming Challenges in the Field
Reaching such a large number of children in a region like Gaza, where political tensions and logistical difficulties prevail, is no small feat. The vaccination teams had to contend with numerous obstacles, from cold and rainy weather to areas of the region still inaccessible due to the ongoing conflict. Despite these conditions, parents showed immense resilience, bringing their children to vaccination centers to ensure their protection against polio.
Rik Peeperkorn, WHO’s representative in the Palestinian territories, praised the campaign’s success in the first few days, especially considering the prevailing conditions. The initial three days of the campaign alone saw nearly 548,000 children vaccinated, an impressive accomplishment given the challenges faced by the health workers. The remaining days of the campaign were used to catch up on missed children, ensuring that nearly all children in Gaza under the age of 10 were vaccinated.
The ceasefire, though temporary, provided the necessary window for health workers to cover vast swathes of territory. However, it was not without its limitations. During the second round of vaccinations in 2024, around 7,000 children were missed due to inaccessibility and logistical hurdles. This serves as a reminder of the persistent difficulties that health campaigns face in conflict zones, where movement and access to affected populations can be severely restricted.
The Importance of Continued Vaccination Efforts
The WHO and local health authorities have stressed the importance of continued vaccination campaigns to fully eradicate polio from Gaza. Polio remains highly infectious, and its impact on children can be devastating. With the virus still circulating in the environment, health officials are determined to ensure that no child is left behind.
A fourth round of vaccinations is already being planned for the near future, in an effort to further strengthen immunity in Gaza’s population. The WHO has emphasized that the fight against polio hinges on the complete vaccination of every last child, along with efforts to ensure safe water, sanitation, hygiene, and proper nutrition for children in the region. It is clear that the road to a polio-free Gaza will require sustained commitment from both local authorities and the international community.
WHO’s Tedros underscored the need for peace to ensure the success of public health efforts. “Ending polio hinges on fully vaccinating every last child and ensuring uninterrupted access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, and proper nutrition. But the medicine all children in Gaza need is lasting peace,” he said.
The Broader Public Health Context
Polio vaccination drives like the one in Gaza are critical not only for preventing the disease but also for maintaining global progress in the fight against polio. The World Health Assembly declared polio eradication as one of its key goals back in 1988, and significant strides have been made since then, with polio now endemic in only a few countries. However, conflict, political instability, and poor infrastructure continue to impede vaccination efforts in certain regions, making it difficult to reach all children with the vaccines they need.
In the case of Gaza, the outbreak of polio serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in conflict zones. The region’s healthcare system has long been under strain, and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict further exacerbates these challenges. The vaccination campaign, while successful, also highlights the need for long-term investment in Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure to ensure that basic services like immunization are consistently available to the population.
The polio outbreak in Gaza also underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing health crises. The global community, through organizations like the WHO, UNICEF, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), has been instrumental in the vaccination campaign. However, as the situation in Gaza continues to evolve, the international community’s role in ensuring ongoing support and intervention will be crucial to securing a polio-free future for the children of Gaza.
The polio vaccination campaign in Gaza represents a significant victory in the face of immense challenges. The drive to vaccinate more than 600,000 children under 10 demonstrates the resilience of health workers, the commitment of local and international health authorities, and the dedication of Gaza’s parents to protecting their children. However, the battle against polio is far from over. Continued efforts are required to ensure that every child is vaccinated, and that the underlying conditions of sanitation, nutrition, and peace are addressed.
As the WHO and local health authorities continue their efforts to rid Gaza of polio, they remain hopeful that future rounds of vaccination, coupled with lasting peace, will help eradicate the disease for good. The health and well-being of Gaza’s children depend not only on vaccines but also on a more peaceful and stable environment that will allow these efforts to succeed without interruption.
