Israel and Hamas to pause in fighting for Gaza polio vaccinations

The Israeli military and Hamas have agreed to three separate, zoned three-day pauses in fighting in Gaza to allow for the first round of vaccination of 640,000 children against polio on August 29th, reported The Arab Weekly.

The World Health Organization’s senior official for the Palestinian Territories, Rik Peeperkorn, said the vaccination campaign will start on September 1st. The pauses are going to take place between 6 am and 3 pm.

He stated that the campaign would begin in central Gaza, with an initial three-day pause in fighting, before progressing to southern Gaza for another three-day pause, and ultimately moving to northern Gaza. If needed, the pause will be extended a fourth day. 

Read: Polio outbreak threatens Gaza as Israel vaccinates soldiers

On August 23rd, the WHO confirmed that at least one baby has been paralyzed by the type 2 polio virus, the first such case in the territory in 25 years. 

The Israel military’s humanitarian unit (COGAT) said on August 28th that the vaccination campaign would be coordinated with the Israeli military to allow the population to reach medical centres where the vaccination will be administered. 

Ninety percent of coverage is needed during each pause to stop the outbreak and ward off the international spread of polio.