Vaccinating children in Gaza. Gaza vaccination campaign: Six injured in attack on health center Peace and security
The final phase of the polio vaccination campaign began this weekend in the besieged northern Gaza, which had been delayed due to intense bombing and lack of access. Hours after the campaign resumed, an immunization center was hit, wounding six people, including four children, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
It was previously agreed that humanitarian pauses would be observed daily from 6am to 4pm during the final round of vaccinations.
“We have received extremely disturbing news that the Sheikh Radwan primary health centre in northern Gaza was attacked today as parents brought their children for polio vaccination in an area where a humanitarian pause had been agreed,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Platform X on Saturday.
He added that a WHO team involved in the vaccination campaign was at the centre shortly before the attack.
“This attack, occurring during a humanitarian pause, puts the integrity of children’s health at risk,” Tedros wrote, adding that Because of such attacks, parents may refuse to bring their children for vaccinations. He called for humanitarian pauses to be observed.
UN humanitarian agencies also warned that health workers would likely not be able to vaccinate all children who need a second dose of the vaccine.
“The final phase of the campaign aimed to vaccinate some 119,000 children under 10 years of age in northern Gaza with a second dose of the new oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), but this target is now unlikely to be met due to access restrictions,” the UN said.
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