On October 20, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced via social media that the second round of polio vaccinations for children in southern Gaza officially began on October 19. On that day, more than 140,000 children received the vaccine.

According to preliminary statistics, a total of 145,202 children under the age of 10 in southern Gaza completed their second round of polio vaccinations on October 19. Additionally, 119,055 children aged 2 to 10 were administered supplemental vitamin A. The WHO urged all parties to continue humanitarian ceasefires in southern Gaza to ensure the smooth execution of the polio vaccination efforts.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs previously stated that the goal of the second round of polio vaccinations in southern Gaza is to provide a second dose to over 293,000 children. Before this campaign, a similar vaccination initiative in central Gaza had already concluded, with more than 181,000 children in that region receiving their vaccines.

Earlier, the first round of polio vaccinations across Gaza was successfully completed between September 1 and September 12, administering the first dose to approximately 559,000 children.