POLIO PLUS - 2022 YEAR IN REVIEWFor polio eradication efforts, 2022 brought good news. Fewer genetic strains of the virus are circulating than ever before. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries where polio remains endemic. And support from political, medical, and community leaders in those areas has strengthened vaccination efforts during the past year. Global support for polio eradication also reached new heights, as was proven at the World Health Summit in October, when Rotary and international partners and donors pledged a combined US$2.6 billion to eradicate the disease.
There were challenges in 2022 as well. The poliovirus appeared in places it hasn’t been for a long time: Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States, to name a few. Wild poliovirus cases were reported in Mozambique, related to the 2021 case in Malawi caused by wild poliovirus imported from Pakistan. News of these cases didn’t slow our eradication efforts, however. If anything, it made us even more determined. Now is our best chance to finish the fight against polio.
In 2023, we need everyone’s help. We invite you to use the call to action “Together, we end polio” to express our collective will to finish the job. Let’s work together to end this disease forever.
In 2023, we need everyone’s help. We invite you to use the call to action “Together, we end polio” to express our collective will to finish the job. Let’s work together to end this disease forever.
Promote the power of vaccines for World Immunization Week this April
With decades of experience in polio eradication, Rotary members play a key role in publicizing the power of vaccines. In part because Rotary members and partners have worked so hard to counteract vaccine hesitancy and reach all children with the polio vaccine, we’ve immunized billions of children against the disease.
World Immunization Week, 24-30 April, is an opportunity for Rotary and Rotaract clubs to spread the message that vaccines save lives. It’s critical to continue polio vaccinations for children around the world and to advocate for COVID-19 vaccinations for all. Download the World Immunization tool from the following link: https://msgfocus.rotary.org/c/11GrPotmfVrTf2d90gVuXV7S56oeOP
We are still concerned about the number of cVDPV type 1 cases. At a meeting of the Zones 26 and 27 polio committee chairs, Mike McGovern reported that he has been told that there may be 2 cases of cVDPV type 2 cases associated with the nOPV2: before this time none had been associated with the nOPV2 but even if this is confirmed 2 cases out of 585 doses of the nOPV2 is much better than when the OPV vaccine contained the usual type 2. Hopefully, soon there will not be a need for type 2 or type 3 to even be in the polio vaccine.