Estimates show that one in five children under the age of three are either zero-dose or have forgotten vaccinations due to the war, putting them at risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.
The catch-up campaign aims to inoculate these children against measles, mumps and rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, polio, rotavirus and pneumonia.
It will be carried out by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Palestine Refugee Agency, UNRWA, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners in collaboration with the Gaza Ministry of Health.
‘A moral imperative’
To help address the devastating impact of conflict on children’s health and nutrition, UNICEF and partners will also screen children for malnutrition and ensure that those with the disease receive treatment and ongoing follow-up.
“After two years of relentless violence that claimed the lives of more than 20,000 children in the Gaza Strip, we finally have an opportunity to protect those who survived,” said Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF Special Representative in the State of Palestine.
“Vaccinating every child and supporting their health and nutrition is not just a humanitarian intervention; it is a moral imperative. It is how we secure the future of children born into disaster and begin to rebuild hope in the midst of devastation.”
Hundreds of workers trained
The campaign is carried out in three rounds, starting from 9 to 18 November.
More than 450 health workers and support staff have been trained to support vaccination efforts.
In addition, 149 doctors have been trained to recognize, report and investigate any health problems after immunization – although such cases are extremely rare.
‘Much more is needed’
“This immunization campaign is a lifeline that protects children’s health and restores hope for the future,” said Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
However, he stressed that “much more is needed and WHO is working to rebuild Gaza’s fragile health system so that every child, every community can access the care they deserve.”
Before the conflict, Gaza had 54 immunization facilities. It was also among the world leaders in childhood vaccination coverage, with a share of 98 percent.
Today, 31 immunization facilities are no longer operational as they have been damaged or destroyed in indiscriminate attacks, while routine vaccination coverage is now below 70 percent.
The final two phases of the campaign, aimed at giving children their second and third doses of the vaccines, are scheduled for December and January.
In 2024, the UN and partners launched a mass campaign across the Gaza Strip to vaccinate children against polio.
