Israel has agreed to pause the fighting in Gaza to allow for a crucial polio vaccination campaign targeting young children in the region, according to United Nations and Israeli officials. The pause, set to begin on September 1, will be divided into three 3-day phases, starting in central Gaza and followed by south and north Gaza.

Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization's representative for the West Bank and Gaza, announced during a press briefing that the pauses in the conflict will facilitate the much-needed vaccination campaign. He emphasized that the vaccination coverage in Gaza had dropped to just over 80%, highlighting the urgent need to reach more than 90% coverage to stop the outbreak in the besieged Palestinian territory.

The vaccination campaign aims to immunize approximately 640,000 children under the age of 10, with each child receiving two doses. Peeperkorn stated that 1.26 million vaccine doses and 500 vaccine carriers have already been delivered to Gaza in preparation for the campaign.

During each 7-hour phase of the vaccination campaign, vaccines will be allowed to enter the paused area for distribution. However, further details regarding the structure of vaccine distribution by the Israeli agency responsible for approving aid into Gaza, COGAT, have not been disclosed.

Basem Naim, a member of Hamas' political bureau, welcomed the initiative to implement a pause in the conflict for the vaccination drive. He expressed Hamas' readiness to cooperate with international organizations in securing the success of the campaign.

Peeperkorn warned that the three-day periods may not be sufficient to achieve adequate vaccination, and it has been agreed that the campaign can be extended by an additional day per zone or even longer if necessary. The vaccination effort will be conducted in two rounds, with a four-week interval between the first and second doses.

Polio, a highly infectious disease that mainly affects children under five years old, can cause irreversible paralysis and even death. The virus, which has been eliminated in most developed countries, poses a significant threat to the vulnerable population in Gaza, compounded by the challenges of access to food, medical supplies, and clean water amidst the ongoing conflict.

The Hostages Families Forum, advocating for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, has urged international organizations such as the World Health Organization and UNICEF to include the hostages in the polio vaccination campaign and other health interventions.

The United States has also played a role in pushing for the prioritization of the polio vaccination effort. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasized the importance of this campaign and secured Netanyahu's commitment to collaborate on its execution. US Special Envoy Lise Grande for Middle East Humanitarian Issues has been working to finalize the details between the Israeli government and the UN, including the specifics of the pauses and vaccine delivery.

The World Health Organization, along with the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the United Nations Children's Fund, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, and other partners, has developed a technical and strategic plan to execute the vaccine campaign effectively. These organizations have reiterated the necessity of a ceasefire, referred to as a "polio pause," as a crucial component to contain the disease and prevent its spread to the broader region.

The implementation of these pauses in the conflict marks a significant step forward in the battle against polio in Gaza. As the vaccination campaign commences, efforts will be made to reach a higher vaccination coverage, safeguarding the health and well-being of the children in the region.