The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has displaced more than 80% of the population and limited access to healthcare, food, water, electricity and other essential services. Security risks and a fragmented health system have left many thousands of children without lifesaving immunizations. According to estimates, one in five children under 3 has either missed their vaccinations or is zero-dose—putting them at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.
To address this gap, International Medical Corps, partnering with UNICEF, launched the National Catch-up Vaccination Campaign to reach children cut off from lifesaving services. The campaign is being rolled out in three phases, each lasting 10 days. The first and second phases were rolled out in International Medical Corps’ field hospitals in Al Zawaida and Deir Al-Balah in November and December 2025, respectively. The third phase is scheduled for rollout in April.
The campaign is targeting such childhood diseases as measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, polio, rotavirus and pneumonia.
“We want to reach children displaced by the conflict in Gaza,” says Nour Al-Owaity, who works as a nurse at the Al Zawaida field hospital’s vaccination department. “Vaccination protects children against infectious diseases and is more critical than ever given the conditions we are facing due to the war.”
For the first two phases, we set up vaccination teams at the two field hospitals that offered nutrition screenings in addition to immunizations. The teams also provided logistical support to ensure proper implementation of the campaign, and cold-chain support to ensure safe vaccine storage.
A Show of Trust
During the first two phases of the campaign, we vaccinated more than 300 children aged 0–12, demonstrating the trust that community members have in International Medical Corps’ services and staff.
“My son was born at the Al Zawaida field hospital,” says 24-year-old Hayat Muhammad Dawood. She had developed severe anemia during her pregnancy, leading the doctors to perform a Cesarean section to deliver the baby safely. “It was because of the medical care I received at the hospital that my son was born healthy,” Hayat adds. She understands that vaccination is the next step to health: “My son is just starting his life, and it’s important that he builds immunity against diseases right from the start,” she says. “When I heard about the vaccination campaign at International Medical Corps’ field hospital, I didn’t have to think twice. I knew the place was clean, the staff was efficient and I already had an emotional attachment because my son was born there.”
Despite these successes, many children in Gaza are yet to be vaccinated, Nour says, although she looks forward to additional catch-up campaigns.
Health workers like Nour have continued to serve their communities despite the challenges resulting from the war. “We fear for our safety,” Nour explains, “but it has not stopped us from doing the work we love because every day, we see a lot of people in need.”
Learn more about our lifesaving work in Gaza.