Israeli Authorities Send Millions of Polio Vaccine Doses to War-Torn Gaza
Israeli authorities announced Sunday that nearly 3 million doses of polio vaccines had been delivered to the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in October 2023. According to Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), a total of 282,126 vials of the polio vaccine, equating to 2,821,260 doses, have been sent to Gaza since the war began.
In response to the discovery of the poliovirus in Gaza in July, an additional 9,000 vials, providing 90,000 doses, were delivered through the Kerem Shalom crossing. Israeli officials also revealed plans to deliver another 43,250 vials in the coming weeks, specially designed to combat the strain of the virus detected in environmental samples in Gaza.
COGAT’s statement included plans to allow medical teams into Gaza to support the vaccination campaign. The effort has gained urgency since Gaza health officials confirmed the region’s first case of poliovirus in 25 years on Friday.
The World Health Organization has called for a cease-fire to facilitate a comprehensive vaccination drive in the heavily damaged enclave, where war has worsened the public health crisis. Gaza’s destruction has led to critical shortages of clean water, waste removal, and functioning sewage systems, elevating the risk of disease outbreaks.
