10 Reasons to Donate to The Rotary Foundation
with Polio Eradication In Mind by Don Klug, Watertown Rotary
- Why Donate? Any donation in the amount of $25 is noted by Marsha to the Foundation and is credited towards TRF and your PHF recognition.
- Why Donate to Polio Plus? For 30 plus years one of our Rotary missions has been to eradicate this crippling childhood disease. The Bill Gates Foundation and the World Health Organization has partnered with Rotary International in our fight. We are not alone in this struggle.
- What is Polio? Polio is an infectious disease caused by a virus that lives in the throat and intestinal tract. It is most often spread through person-to-person contact with the stool of an infected person and may also be spread through oral/nasal secretions. Those who develop symptoms may incur paralysis or death.
- How common was polio in the United States? Polio was one of the most dreaded childhood diseases of the 20th century. With the introduction of Salk vaccine in 1955, the number of cases rapidly declined to under 2,500 by 1957. By 1965, only 61 cases of paralytic polio were reported.
- Is polio still a disease seen in the United States? The last imported case caused by wild poliovirus into the United States was reported in 1993.
- Who should get polio vaccine and when? The poliovirus vaccine used in the United States is IPV. It is a shot given in the leg or arm, depending on age. The Polio vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines. IPV is routinely given to children, who receive 4 doses over time.
- If Polio isn’t a significant threat here, why should we care? Unfortunately, polio lurks in the shadow of war and highly populated poverty stricken countries. Polio remains in two countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
- Are we in danger? As long as the disease exists we are threatened. There is no cure for polio once infected. The focus of modern treatment has been on providing relief of symptoms, speeding recovery and preventing complications.
- What is the cost? The cost to immunize a child costs $0.60. Where else can you make a contribution that will have such a significant impact? Thirty donations of $25.00 each will afford the vaccine for 1,250 children!
- We are SO close! Rotarians have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. Even though we are 99% plus of the way to eradicating this disease, there remains a threat! We have yet to win. Please help! End Polio NOW! Your gift of $25 to the Polio Plus Fund is eligible for Paul Harris Society recognition.