Polio Vaccinations Receive $100 Million Dollar Boost

Rotary announced it is giving $100 million dollars in grants to support the global effort to end polio. 

This new funding comes as Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) address the most pressing challenges to ending poliovirus transmission around the world. 

While there were only 33 cases of wild poliovirus reported in 2018, the ‘last mile of polio eradication’ has proven to be the most difficult. 

As an example, there have been 6 countries reporting polio cases as of May 29, 2019.   

“Routine immunization in high-risk states is helping us prevent new cases of wild polio,” said Dr. Tunji Funsho, chair or Rotary’s Nigeria PolioPlus Committee. 

“Although the polio infrastructure has become stronger and allows us to also respond to other serious health concerns. We must remain committed to ensuring the political and financial support necessary to ending polio in Nigeria and around the globe for good.” 

“Barriers to polio eradication--like weak health systems, insecurity, and mobile and remote populations--must be overcome.” 

To support polio eradication efforts in endemic countries, Rotary is allocating half the funds it announced today to:

• Afghanistan ($16.3 million)
• Nigeria ($10.2 million)
• Pakistan ($25.2million)

Additional funding will support efforts to keep vulnerable countries polio-free:

• Chad ($102,395)
• The Democratic Republic of the Congo ($9.5 million)
• Ethiopia ($2.6 million)
• Iraq ($6 million)
• Kenya ($6.3 million)
• Mali ($1.2 million)
• Somalia ($1.4 million)
• South Sudan ($1.2 million)
• Syria ($1.7 million)
• Yemen ($2.1 million)

Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) will receive $1.3 million to conduct research, and will also receive support for surveillance activities in its Africa ($10.9 million) and Eastern Mediterranean ($4 million) Regions.

Rotary has committed to raising $50 million a year to be matched 2-to-1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, amounting to $150 million for polio eradication annually.

Recent polio vaccine news:

• Wild Poliovirus Eradication Can Be Achieved
• India’s Oral Polio Vaccines Reported ‘Substandard’

Previously, Rotary has contributed more than $1.9 billion to fight the disease, including matching funds from the Gates Foundation, and countless volunteer hours since launching its polio eradication program, PolioPlus, in 1985. 

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges.

Visit End Polio Now for more about Rotary and its efforts to eradicate polio.