In 1979, volunteers administered the oral polio vaccine to children in the Philippines. The event was arranged and attended by Rotarians and delegates from the Philippine Ministry of Health. The project’s success led Rotary to make polio eradication a top priority. RI launched PolioPlus in 1985 and was a founding member of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988.Rotary has committed more than $2.9 billion, and countless volunteer hours, to fighting polio since Rotary launched its polio eradication program, PolioPlus, in 1985.
In 1988, Rotary joined in partnership with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to form the GPEI (the Global Polio Eradication Initiative). The Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance later joined..
When the initiative was launched, there were 350,000 cases of polio every year. Through decades of commitment and work by Rotary and our partners, more than 2.5 billion children have received the oral polio vaccine. Thanks to the GPEI’s efforts, in partnership with world governments, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent.
WHO: The United States has withdrawn from WHO (the World Health Organization).
UNICEF has projected that its 2026 budget will shrink by at least 20% compared to 2024, a spokesperson for the U.N. children's agency said on Tuesday, after the U.S. President slashed global humanitarian aid.
CDC: Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is removing all 17 members of a key vaccine advisory committee that helps craft vaccine policy and recommendations for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
GAVI: U.S. is pulling funding from Gavi, the global group that has paid for more than a billion kids to get vaccinated.
Go HERE to learn about Rotary's Polio Eradication efforts, and DONATE HERE.
If you are wondering why polio has not been eradicated from the globe, even though we’ve had vaccines for almost 70 years, check this fabulous educational VIDEO.