Rotary and the fight against polio

One of Rotary's most important humanitarian initiatives is the fight against polio through the PolioPlus programme, launched in 1985. Rotary was a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988 and has since played a key role in funding, advocacy and organising immunisation campaigns.

What polio is

Poliomyelitis is a viral disease that can cause permanent paralysis or death, and most often affects young children. Effective vaccines exist — the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) — which have brought the disease close to eradication.

Rotary's role

• Funding: Rotary has invested substantial resources in vaccination programmes and logistics
• Partnerships: working with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, foundations and governments
• Mobilising volunteers: organising immunisation days, informing parents, monitoring and surveillance
• Advocacy: building political will and financial support for eradication programmes

Achievements and challenges

Thanks to global efforts, polio cases have fallen by more than 99% since 1988. Polio is now present in a very small number of countries, but has not been fully eradicated. The main challenges are conflict and insecurity in affected areas, logistical difficulties in delivering vaccines, misinformation and occasional interruptions to vaccination.

How you can help

• Support local and international Rotary projects, or donate to PolioPlus
• Inform yourself and share verified information about the importance of vaccination
• Volunteer in local immunisation or education activities