GAZA CITY, Palestine— The Gaza Health Ministry announced late Sunday that it has received a significant shipment of polio vaccines, totaling 1.26 million doses. This delivery includes 500 vaccine coolers to facilitate distribution.
The announcement comes in response to a recent public health crisis: on August 16, the Health Ministry confirmed the first case of polio in Gaza in 25 years. The confirmed case involved a 10-month-old infant from Deir al-Balah who had not been vaccinated against the disease.
Polio, a viral infection that primarily affects children under five, can lead to severe complications, including irreversible paralysis in one in 200 cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 5% to 10% of those affected by paralysis may die due to respiratory failure.
The vaccine campaign is set to begin shortly, with the ministry coordinating efforts with various partners to ensure effective distribution.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has severely exacerbated the region’s health and humanitarian situation. Since an escalation in violence following a Hamas attack on October 7, Israel’s military operations have resulted in over 40,400 Palestinian deaths and more than 93,000 injuries, as reported by local health authorities. The blockade has further led to critical shortages of essential supplies, including food, clean water, and medicine.
International scrutiny continues as Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has demanded a cessation of military activities in Rafah. This area, once a refuge for over one million Palestinians, has been heavily impacted by the conflict since May 6.