Polio Eradication Still Faces Challenges
Posted by Stephen Hanik
Salk's Polio Vaccine Celebrates Anniversary April 12. The field of medicine has a record of virtually uninterrupted progress. We are always learning how to save more lives.
On April 12, 1955, Dr. Jonas Salk's anti-polio vaccine was declared safe and effective. One of the most dreaded killers and cripplers of childhood had the chance to be tamed. The United States has been the leading public-sector supporter of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, contributing more than $1.6 billion -- about a quarter of all funding.
The highly developed lab network, established as part of the end-polio initiative, is also being used to track measles, rubella, yellow fever, meningitis and other deadly infectious diseases. Most recently, polio health workers have been trained to recognize symptoms of avian influenza to support surveillance and potential outbreak response activities to this public health threat.
Prospects for polio eradication are bright, but significant challenges remain due to operational challenges in reaching every child in the four polio-endemic countries of Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. Polio doesn't wait for peace. You have to vaccinate even in conflict. Reaching children in times of conflict is a challenge.
Unflagging public- and private-sector support is critical to ending polio once and for all.
Rotary International's commitment will reach $1.2 billion by the time the world is certified polio-free -- a financial commitment that is second only to that of the U.S. government. The goal of a polio-free world is within our grasp because through your contributions, polio eradication strategies work even in the most challenging environments and circumstances.
The highly developed lab network, established as part of the end-polio initiative, is also being used to track measles, rubella, yellow fever, meningitis and other deadly infectious diseases. Most recently, polio health workers have been trained to recognize symptoms of avian influenza to support surveillance and potential outbreak response activities to this public health threat.
Prospects for polio eradication are bright, but significant challenges remain due to operational challenges in reaching every child in the four polio-endemic countries of Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. Polio doesn't wait for peace. You have to vaccinate even in conflict. Reaching children in times of conflict is a challenge.
Unflagging public- and private-sector support is critical to ending polio once and for all.
Rotary International's commitment will reach $1.2 billion by the time the world is certified polio-free -- a financial commitment that is second only to that of the U.S. government. The goal of a polio-free world is within our grasp because through your contributions, polio eradication strategies work even in the most challenging environments and circumstances.