UN Calls for Vaccine Pause in Gaza

The UN, WHO, and UNICEF are urging a 'polio pause' in the Gaza Strip to facilitate urgent vaccinations against polio after cases were detected in environmental samples and at least one confirmed case emerged. Since the conflict escalated in October 2023, nearly 3 million doses of the vaccine have been delivered to Gaza, but health officials warn that the region's deteriorating infrastructure, including sanitation issues, poses a significant risk for a broader outbreak. Aid groups stress that a minimum seven-day ceasefire is necessary to allow for comprehensive vaccination efforts targeting over 640,000 children. The current public health crisis is exacerbated by lack of clean water and widespread sewage contamination, which further increases the threat of disease. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledges this moment may be the last opportunity to secure a ceasefire and protect public health in Gaza. With the situation dire, humanitarian organizations prepare for a worst-case scenario of a polio outbreak in the coming weeks if immediate action is not taken.