Health
Senior Doctors in England Accept Pay Offer, Ending Dispute
In a significant development, senior doctors in England have accepted a pay offer from the government. The deal applies to specialty and associate specialist (SAS) doctors who have completed junior doctor training but are not working as consultants or general practitioners (GPs). SAS doctors, who had been threatening strike action, have now joined their consultant colleagues in ending their dispute.
The pay deal is worth up to 19.4% and includes contract reforms and changes to career progression. This announcement comes ahead of a planned five-day strike by junior doctors next week, marking their 11th walkout during the dispute.
The British Medical Association (BMA) had requested a 35% pay rise to compensate for 15 years of below-inflation increases. In contrast, junior doctors received an average pay rise of nearly 9% in the last financial year.
Dr. Ujjwala Mohite, chair of the BMA’s SAS Committee, emphasized the importance of this agreement in retaining SAS doctors in the profession. She highlighted burnout, eroded pay, and stunted career progression as challenges faced by SAS doctors.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins welcomed the result, calling it a “fair deal” for taxpayers. She urged junior doctors to call off their strike, promising further negotiations after the election. Meanwhile, pay disputes continue in Northern Ireland and Wales, where junior doctors, SAS doctors, and consultants are evaluating a new pay offer.
Health
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Second Round of Polio Vaccination Begins in Gaza Amid Conflict
A second round of polio vaccinations commenced in Gaza on Monday, aiming to inoculate over half a million children as part of emergency efforts to control an outbreak first detected in July. The highly contagious virus was found in sewage samples and led to the paralysis of a 10-month-old child, marking the first polio case in the region in 25 years.
The initial phase of the vaccination campaign occurred in early September, with approximately 95% of eligible children receiving the first dose of the oral polio vaccine. The current round will provide the crucial second dose, necessary to halt the transmission of the virus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least two doses are required to stop the spread, and a minimum of 90% vaccination coverage is essential to protect the population.
In addition to the polio vaccine, children between the ages of two and nine will receive Vitamin A to enhance overall immunity, the WHO reported.
Dr. Hamid Jafari, Director of Polio Eradication for WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean region, explained that polio outbreak responses typically involve multiple rounds of immunization to interrupt transmission at the community level. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) helps determine the number and scope of campaigns needed based on risk assessments, with this particular campaign targeting children under 10 in Gaza.
Vaccination Amid War and Shortages
The ongoing vaccination effort takes place under the shadow of the Israel-Hamas war, which erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack in southern Israel. Israel’s subsequent military response, including airstrikes and a ground operation, has led to widespread devastation in Gaza, with more than 42,000 Palestinians killed, according to the territory’s health ministry.
The war has severely strained Gaza’s healthcare system, which WHO described as “virtually depleted.” The first round of vaccinations faced major logistical hurdles due to damaged infrastructure, a lack of supplies, and significant population displacement.
Despite these challenges, the first phase was considered a success, with mobile teams, outreach posts, and health facilities ensuring broad coverage. For the second round, similar strategies are being employed, with additional efforts to raise public awareness, including radio broadcasts and digital messaging.
In recent months, 1.6 million doses of the polio vaccine have been delivered to Gaza, along with essential equipment like refrigerators, freezers, and vaccine carriers.
Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, emphasized the importance of “humanitarian pauses” in the conflict to ensure the vaccination campaign can continue without interruption, stressing that “without them, it is impossible to vaccinate the children.”
Global Polio Eradication Efforts
Polio is primarily transmitted through contact with the feces of an infected individual, often through contaminated water or food. While many people experience mild or no symptoms, the virus can cause paralysis and, in severe cases, death.
The ongoing global fight against polio has successfully reduced cases of wild poliovirus to just two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, outbreaks of vaccine-derived strains still occur in areas with low immunization rates. These strains, linked to the live virus in the oral vaccine, can be controlled with two to three rounds of immunization.
The novel version of the oral polio vaccine used in Gaza includes improvements designed to reduce the likelihood of the virus mutating and causing disease in under-vaccinated communities. Dr. Jafari stressed the importance of continued global cooperation, noting that “until we stop transmission of all polioviruses, children everywhere remain at risk.”
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