Major Vaccination Drive Protects Gaza's Children During Fragile Truce
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a critical vaccination campaign in Gaza, aiming to immunize more than 40,000 children against deadly diseases. This large-scale effort is taking advantage of the fragile ceasefire that has been in place, providing a crucial window to address the health crisis in the war-torn enclave.
Initial Phase Sees Rapid Success, Campaign Extended
In a significant early achievement, health officials confirmed that more than 10,000 children under the age of three received vital vaccines in just the first eight days of the campaign. The drive began on November 9, 2025. Due to this promising start, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that the first phase of the program has been extended until the following Saturday.
The initiative seeks to protect vulnerable children from a range of preventable illnesses, including:
- Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
- Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough
- Polio and tuberculosis
- Hepatitis B, pneumonia, and rotavirus
UN Agencies Collaborate to Rebuild Shattered Health System
This vital health mission is a collaborative effort, backed by UNICEF and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), working alongside the local health ministry. The campaign is structured in multiple phases, with the subsequent rounds scheduled for December and January.
WHO leader Tedros expressed encouragement that the ceasefire continues, stating it allows his organization and partners to "intensify essential health services across Gaza and support the necessary re-equipment and reconstruction of its devastated health system." This effort comes after more than two years of hostilities that have left Gaza's infrastructure in ruins.
Ceasefire Provides Critical Window for Aid
The current truce was established on October 10, following a plan facilitated by US President Donald Trump. The UN Security Council officially endorsed this plan on November 17, 2025. While the ceasefire has largely held, it has been tested by several reported outbreaks of violence in the Palestinian territory.
The conflict has taken a heavy toll. It was triggered by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack in Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people, mostly civilians. The subsequent Israeli military campaign has led to the deaths of more than 69,500 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the local health ministry, which reports that over half of the victims were minors and women.
Amid this backdrop of devastation, the ongoing vaccination campaign represents a beacon of hope, safeguarding the health of Gaza's next generation while the window of peace remains open.
