What it is about

The second phase of the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza has concluded, with an impressive vaccination rate of over 90% among children being achieved. This critical health initiative was spearheaded by the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

Why it matters

This successful campaign is not only a health victory for Gaza’s children but also a crucial demonstration of effective cooperation between Israeli authorities and international organizations. The operation provided essential medical support to a region in need, highlighting Israel’s commitment to humanitarian assistance.

Details

During the campaign, over 1.1 million polio vaccines were distributed among three main regions in Gaza: the North, Central, and Southern areas. This significant achievement was facilitated by well-coordinated humanitarian pauses and focused logistical planning to ensure the smooth entry and distribution of vaccines, along with other necessary medical supplies.

The Big Picture

The delivery of more than 355,000 vials of polio vaccines is capable of turning the tide against polio for approximately 5 million people. In addition, another 619,332 vaccines for other diseases were successfully brought to Gaza, potentially benefiting over 5.6 million civilians.

This milestone reaffirms Israel’s Role in Regional Health Initiatives

The completion of this vaccination campaign underscores Israel’s and COGAT’s pivotal role in advancing health security and reinforcing their humanitarian responsibilities, fostering positive relations even in challenging regions such as Gaza.

This story was first published on jpost.com.