There are many things about polio that are scary, such as that it’s incurable and mostly affects children under the age of five. And until we end polio forever, every child is still at risk. With the accessibility of international travel, polio is only a plane ride away!
But the good news is that we’re almost there; we’re so close!
Even though the disease is incurable, we have safe, effective, and affordable vaccines. Africa was declared Polio Free in August of 2020, after going four years without a case. Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only two countries with endemic (wild polio) cases, with a total of 35 confirmed cases in 2025.
Rotary remains committed to the eradication of polio, along with our partners all over the world, including at The Gates Foundation, WHO, and UNICEF. The Gates Foundation has renewed its partnership and matching campaign with Rotary, together committing up to $450 million over the next three years.
You might wonder “If only two countries remain endemic, what is the $450 million for?” Well, that’s why our campaign is called PolioPlus. Ending polio means more than just providing vaccinations. Our contributions also fund surveillance, outbreak response and preparedness, supplementary immunizations, containment, research, and environmental safeguarding.
I hope that you will consider donating to PolioPlus in honor of World Polio Day on October 24th. Every dollar you donate will receive a $2 match from The Gates Foundation. With your help, we can end polio for good.
To donate or to learn more, check out these links: