Why Continued Giving Is Crucial for Global Polio Eradication

Dr. Albert Tien, District 6630 Polio Plus Chair and Mr. Stew Buchanan, Past District Governor and Mr. Baseball

Few global health initiatives have unified the world as powerfully as the campaign to end polio. Rotary’s Journey with determining the root cause of Polio spread helped to define and strengthen our Seven Areas of Service. While tremendous progress has been made, our mission is not yet accomplished, and your ongoing support is essential to achieve a polio-free world. Here’s why continued donations by you are critical in this final stretch against one of humanity’s most persistent diseases.

The Cost of Vigilance: Global Polio Surveillance

Eradicating polio requires more than simply vaccinating children—it demands relentless monitoring. Global surveillance involves tracking virus samples in sewage, rapid reporting systems for acute flaccid paralysis, and maintaining laboratories capable of detecting wild poliovirus even in remote corners. This vigilance ensures any new case is identified and contained immediately. The annual cost for global polio surveillance is estimated at $300 million, a figure that cannot be reduced without risking a resurgence.

The Value of a Dose: Polio Vaccine Costs

Vaccination remains the frontline defense against polio. The oral polio vaccine (OPV), costing as little as 12-15 cents per dose, has enabled mass immunization campaigns across continents. The inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), now essential for post-eradication security, costs between $1 - $3 per dose. While this might seem modest, reaching every child—often in conflict zones or the most isolated regions—significantly drives up operational costs. Transportation, refrigeration, and community engagement amplify the financial requirements, making sustained funding indispensable.

Champions of Eradication: GAVI, WHO, Gates Foundation, and Rotary International

The global fight against polio is a story of partnership to “Unite for Good.”

GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance accelerates access to vaccines in lower-income countries, ensuring that cost is never a barrier to protection.
The World Health Organization (WHO) leads on surveillance, outbreak response, and technical support, coordinating efforts at scale.
The Gates Foundation drives innovation, funding research, and bridging resource gaps with significant philanthropic investment.
Rotary International has been the people-powered engine behind PolioPlus, raising over $2.6 billion and mobilizing tens of thousands of volunteers worldwide.

Rotary has committed to raising $50 million per year for the next three years. Bill Gates announced that the Gates Foundation will continue to match Rotary donations to End Polio Now: Two dollars for every One dollar raised! This expanded agreement will translate into up to an additional $450 million to support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. These organizations, alongside local governments and other partners, form the backbone of the effort, but their impact is only possible with your continuous donor support.

Successes and Setbacks: Strains of Polio Eliminated

There are three strains of wild poliovirus: Types 1, 2, and 3. Thanks to persistent immunization, wild poliovirus type 2 was certified eradicated in 2015, and type 3 in 2019. Only type 1 remains, circulating in a handful of locations. This achievement is a testament to what coordinated funding and action can accomplish and a reminder that the finish line is within reach.

The Numbers Tell the Story: Vaccines Delivered and Impact

Since 1985, over three billion doses of polio vaccine have been administered globally, protecting hundreds of millions of children from paralysis. This herculean effort has reduced the worldwide incidence of polio by more than 99.9%. In 1988, over 350,000 children were paralyzed by polio annually across 125 countries; in recent years, reported cases have dropped to less than a few hundred, concentrated in just a couple of countries.

The Challenge Remains: Polio’s Spread and Endemic Locations

Poliovirus is notoriously infectious. Just one case in a community signals that thousands more are likely to be circulating silently. The virus spreads via contaminated water and can travel quickly across borders, especially in areas with limited sanitation and healthcare. Today, wild poliovirus transmission remains endemic in only two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, as long as polio exists anywhere, children everywhere remain at risk.

Why the World Must Keep Giving

Surveillance and Response: Surveillance systems and rapid response teams must remain funded to detect and respond to outbreaks instantly.
Vaccination Campaigns: Ongoing immunization, including supplemental campaigns, is necessary to maintain herd immunity and prevent re-emergence.
Equity and Reach: The battle’s last mile is often the hardest—reaching children in conflict, remote, or marginalized communities is the most expensive and complex part of eradication.
Legacy Infrastructure: The polio eradication infrastructure supports fighting other diseases, such as measles, Ebola, and COVID-19, amplifying the value of every dollar donated.

Rotary International announced at the 2025 International Conference in Calgary, Canada, that once polio has been eradicated it will concentrate on the elimination of human papillary virus (HPV), the causative agent of cervical cancer in women.

Conclusion: One Last Push

The world has come tantalizingly close to ending polio, but history shows that complacency could allow the virus to roar back. Sustained donations fuel the surveillance, vaccination, and rapid response activities that keep us on track. Every contribution—no matter its size—brings us closer to a world where no child will ever again suffer from polio. Our District is sponsoring and coordinating the following activities to End Polio Now:

Guardians Baseball End Polio Event (August 15, 2025) sponsored by Districts 6600,6650 and 6630. Atlanta vs Cleveland. Private Pennant District Event - $72/ticket. View Box (section 438) - $46/ticket.
Tickets can be purchased BY CLICKING HERE before July 25th.
- Raffle tickets (1^st Prize First Pitch, 2^nd Prize Box seats, 3^rd Prize Autographed Guardian’s baseball) $20 for 3 tickets or 1 ticket for $10
- Silent Auction (each club is asked to put together baskets with a minimal value of $100 USD) $20 for an arm’s length of tickets
- Corporate Sponsorship of the End Polio Now tee-shirts are being solicited.

Pours and Pints for Polio Events across Northeast Ohio. Locations and date to be announced on the District Website.
Purple Donuts with Dunkin Donuts. Dates and locations to be announced.
Local Club events to raise awareness and funds to End Polio Now
Inviting Designated Donations to End Polio Now
Scheduling speakers to build Polio Awareness
Arrange community talks and fundraising events around World Polio Day (Friday, October 22, 2025)

Now is the moment to keep the bases loaded and bring everyone home—safe, healthy, and free from polio forever.

Dr. Albert J. Tien

Polio Plus Chair

District 6630

(610) 810- 8433