7th October 2024
Rotary International and our global charity, The Rotary Foundation, have been at the forefront of the fight against polio since 1979.
There are currently just two countries in the world where polio is endemic, Pakistan and Afghanistan, with 46 confirmed cases of wild polio virus in children to so far in 2024 (to 2nd October) (Polio this week – Global Polio Eradication Initiative).
However as we have seen over the last few years, while polio exists, there is the risk of spread across other countries. Conflict and the resultant disturbance of healthcare services also has a big effect on vaccination campaigns and incidents of polio.
Polio Campaign in Gaza
Extract from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative news pages. (Read the full article)
“Around 560 000 children under ten years old were vaccinated against polio during the first round of an emergency vaccination campaign conducted in three phases from 1-12 September 2024 in the Gaza Strip.
“The 12-day campaign provided novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to 558 963 children, following meticulous planning and coordination. This involved the use of an extensive network of teams, vaccinating at selected fixed sites at health facilities and outreach posts. Mobile and transit teams actively reached out to families living in shelter homes, tents, and camps for the displaced, alongside community workers engaging families to raise awareness ahead of and during the campaign. For each phase, an area-specific humanitarian pause of nine hours daily was agreed to ensure the safety of communities and health workers, and enable vaccination efforts.
“The campaign was implemented as part of an urgent and robust response to the confirmation of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in Gaza, which was found in the environment in July 2024, and in a 10-month-old child in August 2024. It was conducted by the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MOH), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and partners. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) members, donors, WHO Member States and partners in oPt, including as part of the Health Cluster, played a key role in facilitating the campaign.”
Are We Vaccinated for Polio in the UK?
Yes. Children receive five vaccinations up to the age of 14 as part of their NHS Childhood Vaccination Schedule. In 2023, following the positive environmental samples in sewage systems in London, children across the capital, up to 11 years were offered polio vaccinations through GP surgeries, primary schools and community clinics.
We can also have a polio vaccination at any point in our lives, whether or not travelling to a country that has cases of polio. (NHS Polio pages)
In this country, as in many countries with strong public health infrastructure, we receive the inactivated polio vaccine, and this does not result in the virus reaching the sewage systems. However in countries where there are still cases of polio, the live vaccine is more effective.
Rotary and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative
Rotary International is a key partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, working alongside the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF, the US Centers for Disease Control, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi the vaccine alliance.
The GPEI works in around 45 countries, not just in the final two endemic countries. The investment is huge – by governments, by Rotary, by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others.
Rotary’s target is 50 million USD each year and for over ten years, this has been matched two for one by the Gates Foundation, meaning up to 100 million USD each year.
Success Against Polio in Ukraine
An outbreak of poliovirus was detected in Ukraine in October 2021. Despite the ongoing war and the resultant displacement of many groups, the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak closed on 8th September 2023.
This is a huge achievement as explained in the news article on the website of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative:
The comprehensive outbreak response, initiated by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in December 2021, faced multiple challenges since the end of February 2022, including massive population displacement, destruction of health-care infrastructure and disruption of logistical routes for medical product deliveries.
“Stopping the spread of poliovirus in the midst of a devastating war is a major achievement and a clear demonstration of the highest level of political commitment of the Government of Ukraine to the welfare of its population,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
“In the face of unprecedented challenges, the necessary steps taken by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to prevent the spread of poliovirus within and beyond the borders of Ukraine are immensely commendable.”
Read the full article on the GPEI news page: Polio outbreak in Ukraine closed – GPEI (polioeradication.org)
Rotary across the Thames Valley supporting Polio Eradication
Rotary clubs across our district in the Thames Valley continue to support the polio campaign, with events, collections and events to raise awareness of the work.
Many clubs plant purple crocus corns each year, often with schools and other community groups. Why purple? When children are vaccinated in the mass vaccination campaigns in countries such as India and Pakistan, their little finger is marked with purple ink. So in Great Britain and Ireland we promote ‘Purple for Polio’. If you are reading this in or near to Faringdon then you may have seen the Rotary crocuses when out and about in the Spring over the last few years. They can certainly be spotted in Clanfield, Shrivenham and along the path at All Saints Church in Faringdon.
In the six years to June 2023, our clubs across the Thames Valley had raised 286,651 USD for polio eradication. With the Gates Foundation match this became 859,953 USD.
Rotarians in Faringdon have raised 9,132 USD over the same period, becoming 27,396 USD with the Gates Foundation matching.
The History
extracts of the timeline from https://www.endpolio.org/
1979: Rotary International begins its fight against polio with a multi-year project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines.
1985: Rotary International launches PolioPlus, the first and largest internationally coordinated private-sector support of a public health initiative, with an initial fundraising target of US$120 million.
1988: Rotary International and the World Health Organization launch the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. There are an estimated 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries.
1995: Health workers and volunteers immunize 165 million children in China and India in 1 week. Rotary launches the PolioPlus Partners program, enabling Rotary members in polio-free countries to provide support to fellow members in polio-affected countries for polio eradication activities.
2003: The Rotary Foundation raises $119 million in a 12-month campaign. Rotary’s total contribution to polio eradication exceeds $500 million. Six countries remain polio-endemic – Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan.
2004: In Africa, synchronized National Immunization Days in 23 countries target 80 million children, the largest coordinated polio immunization effort on the continent.
2006: The number of polio-endemic countries drops to 4 – Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, Pakistan.
2009: Rotary’s overall contribution to the eradication effort nears $800 million. In January, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledges $355 million and issues Rotary a challenge grant of $200 million. This announcement will result in a combined $555 million in support of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
2014: India goes 3 full years without a new case caused by the wild poliovirus, and the World Health Organization certifies the South-East Asia region polio-free. Polio cases are down over 99% since 1988.
2019: Nigeria goes 3 full years without a new case caused by the wild poliovirus.
2020: The World Health Organization certifies the African region wild polio-free.
To read more about polio eradication visit
Rotary’s End Polio Now website https://www.endpolio.org/
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative website https://polioeradication.org/
Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland magazine https://www.rotarygbi.org/magazine/august-september-2022/