Middle East Crisis: Gaza Polio Vaccine Campaign Under Fire
November 3, 2024
Gaza Strip – A polio vaccine campaign launched in the Gaza Strip has come under fire, with critics raising concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
The campaign, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), aims to vaccinate over 1 million children under the age of five against the highly contagious and potentially deadly poliovirus.
However, some local health officials have expressed doubts about the safety of the vaccine, particularly the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), which is being used in the campaign. IPV is a newer type of polio vaccine that is more expensive than the traditional oral polio vaccine (OPV), but it is considered to be safer and more effective.
“We have concerns about the safety of IPV,” said Dr. Mohammed Al-Assad, head of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. “There have been reports of side effects, including fever, diarrhea, and seizures.”
Critics have also questioned the effectiveness of the campaign, given the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The strip has been under Israeli blockade for over a decade, and there are concerns that the vaccine may not reach all children in need.
“The blockade makes it very difficult to deliver vaccines to all parts of Gaza,” said Omar Shaban, a spokesman for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. “We are worried that some children may be missed, which could put the entire population at risk.”
The WHO and UNICEF have defended the campaign, saying that it is safe and effective. They have also stressed that it is important to vaccinate as many children as possible, regardless of the challenges.
“Polio is a highly contagious disease that can cause permanent paralysis or even death,” said Dr. Ziad Tamimi, WHO’s representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. “It is important to vaccinate every child to protect them from this disease.”
The polio vaccine campaign is part of a broader effort to eradicate polio from the Middle East. Polio has been eliminated from most parts of the world, but it remains a threat in a few countries, including Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
The outbreak of polio in the Middle East has been attributed to the conflict and the breakdown of health systems. The WHO has called for a ceasefire in the region to allow for the safe and effective delivery of vaccines.
“Polio can only be eradicated through vaccination,” said Dr. Elizabeth Hoff, UNICEF’s representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. “We urge all parties to the conflict to work together to ensure that every child is vaccinated.”
Middle East crisis: Gaza polio vaccine campaign under fire
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