Vaccines today, yesterday and tomorrow

Vaccines. They are certainly on a lot of people's minds these days.

Whether they should be taken, or made mandatory, is at the heart of a debate that has been raging for months now. While opinions are strong, one thing is clear. They are effective.

Certainly, that's the experience of Rotary International.

For more than 35 years, Rotary has been working to eradicate polio globally through their vaccine program, with the first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979.

October is polio month, while Oct. 24 is World Polio Day. The day celebrates Dr. Jonas Salk who led the team to develop the polio vaccine in the 1950s.

First, the basics.

Polio is a paralyzing and potentially deadly infectious disease that affects children under the age of five. The virus spreads from person to person usually through contaminated water. It can also be spread by coughing or sneezing.

Thanks to the vaccine, the much-feared disease was virtually eliminated in the developed world but continued to cause disability and death in the developing world. Over three decades, Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect more than three billion children in 122 countries.

The goal to eradicate polio is within reach, but work must continue. If eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze 200,000 children annually.

That's one of the reasons local Rotary clubs as well as those around the globe are committed to ending polio.

RAISING MONEY

Various fundraisers are held throughout the year, such as the sale of tulip bulbs each year. Not only are the flowers beautiful and colourful but they also serve to protect children around the globe.

The Sydney-Sunrise Rotary Club will also hold special fundraisers for members to raise money to end polio, along with projects that support various community organizations in our area.

There is no question that the global COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on Rotary's efforts. That is why a new strategic plan was developed to eradicate polio, first in the two endemic countries which include Pakistan and Afghanistan and to stop outbreaks in other areas.

The strategy includes political advocacy — to build trust at the national, provincial and local levels to develop a better understanding of the benefits of the vaccine.

Community engagement is another prong used in the strategy, to build meaningful partnerships with high-risk communities that are most affected by polio. The plan also helps to improve operations by focusing on frontline workers to ensure they have the needed supplies and security to carry out their work. Another aspect of the plan is to integrate polio vaccines into health programs — making the vaccines part of a broader health package. Lastly, the plan seeks to improve surveillance — to speed up outbreak responses and use technology to streamline testing.

A world without polio is possible. It's possible because so many Rotarians, and others around the globe have worked to make it so.

Today, we are 99.9 per cent polio free. The fact is, we have reached this goal through hard work, and a vaccine that was developed by Dr. Salk more than half a century ago.

If you would like more information about Rotary, or how to end polio, please visit sydneysuriserotary.org.