Israel WHO: Preparations underway for vaccinations in the Gaza Strip

Preparations for the mass vaccination of children against polio are in full swing in the Gaza Strip. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), all sides have made "provisional commitments to so-called area-specific humanitarian pauses". This refers to limited ceasefires.

The program is to start on Sunday. Operations are planned from six in the morning until the early afternoon, said Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative for the occupied territories. A total of 640,000 children under the age of ten are to be vaccinated. They need two doses of vaccine every four weeks. Almost 400 vaccination stations will be set up. In addition, almost 300 mobile teams are on the road. Almost 2,200 helpers have been trained to administer the vaccine.

The WHO aims to reach more than 90 percent of children with the campaign. This coverage is necessary to prevent the virus from spreading. Polio is a contagious infectious disease that can cause permanent paralysis and death, especially in young children. There is currently no cure.