Ending Polio

Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever. As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we’ve reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979.

What is polio?

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a paralyzing and potentially deadly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5. The virus spreads from person to person, typically through contaminated water. It can then attack the nervous system.

vaccine-india-polio
Eradicating Polio

Our goal

Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever.

As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we’ve reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979.

Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort.

Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.

Explore the history of Rotary and polio eradication

$
average cost to fully protect a child against polio
Million
children in total vaccinated in 39 countries in 2017
$ Million
cost to conduct polio surveillance worldwide

Feature Stories

Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil
Events

Bradenton Rotary Comedy Night

Read More →
Events

Fireside Chat and Club Fellowship

09/22/2022 Paul’s house

Read More →

Join The Rotary Club of Bradenton

Help us give back to the local communities and connect with like-minded leaders and friends. From leadership positions to mentorship and volunteer opportunities, we will support how YOU want to change the world.