Occupied Gaza: A catch up immunisation campaign has been launched in the Gaza Strip to protect thousands of children who missed routine vaccines during two years of conflict.
UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO and partners, working with the Ministry of Health, aim to reach around 44 thousand children who have been without basic health services. The first round will run from November 9 to 18, with two more rounds planned to complete the doses.
Officials say one in five children under three is either zero dose or partially vaccinated due to the war. These children are now vulnerable to preventable and fast spreading diseases.
The campaign will provide protection against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, polio, rotavirus and pneumonia.
UNICEF Special Representative for the State of Palestine Jonathan Veitch said the drive is a chance to protect those who survived the violence that killed more than twenty thousand children in Gaza. He called vaccination a moral duty and a step to restore hope.
Children will also be screened for malnutrition. Those suffering from moderate or severe acute malnutrition will be treated and monitored, while complicated cases will be referred to WHO supported stabilisation centres.
UNICEF has brought vaccines, syringes, cold chain equipment and nutrition supplies into Gaza for the campaign. Around 450 health workers and support staff have been trained for the drive.
Vaccination will take place at 149 health facilities and through ten mobile clinics. WHO has trained 149 doctors to detect and report any adverse events after vaccination, although such cases are rare.
UNICEF is rehabilitating 15 health points while WHO is repairing 20 damaged health facilities to expand access. WHO is also supporting major hospitals, rebuilding the central laboratory and improving disease surveillance.
WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory Dr Richard Peeperkorn said the campaign is a lifeline for children denied access to health services for too long. He said more support is needed to rebuild Gaza’s fragile health system.
Before the war, Gaza had 54 immunisation centres and a 98 percent vaccination rate. Thirty one centres are now destroyed or non functional and routine coverage has fallen below 70 percent.
With winter approaching, agencies fear a rise in infections. The second and third rounds of vaccination are planned for December 2025 and January 2026.
The campaign is being run with the Ministry of Health and local partners with support from Gavi. Its success depends on families and health workers having safe access to vaccination sites under the ceasefire.
UNICEF and WHO say the long term goal is to restore pre war immunisation levels. They stress that rebuilding the health system and sustained donor support will be critical to achieve this.
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