Massive Success with Gaza Vaccinations

Three days ago, the head of the World Health Organization hailed the success of the first phase of a huge polio vaccination campaign conducted in the Gaza Strip, giving more than 560,000 children a first dose.

Tedros Ghebreyesus said on X:

“This is a massive success amidst a tragic daily reality of life across the Gaza Strip,”

The vaccination effort started on 1st September after the discovery of the first confirmed polio case in 25 years. The aim is to vaccinate at least 90 percent of children under 10.

On Monday, head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, wrote on X that the reason for the success of the first round of the polio vaccination campaign was:

‘Parties to the conflict have largely respected the different required “humanitarian pauses”
showing that when there is a political will, assistance can be provided without disruption.’

Those “humanitarian pauses” in fighting were localised and organised with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). It seems that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad did not cause much disruption despite their strategy of using human shields for their terrorist attacks – probably an indication that the IDF now has a substantial level of control.

A noticeable feature of the Al Jazeera video report is the very different picture it presents of the condition of the Gazan people as they bring their children to be vaccinated. The scenes are quite normal and nothing like those in most news reports from the Strip.

The following report by ILTV news includes details of the largest medical evacuation of Gazans since the start of the conflict.