The goal of the PolioPlus program is the global certification of polio eradication. By eradication, WHO, the Global Commission on Certification, and Rotary mean the interruption of the transmission of the wild poliovirus.”

“By the time the world is certified polio-free, Rotary’s contributions to the global polio eradication effort be nearly US$650 million. In addition, millions of dollars of 'in-kind' and personal contributions have been made by and through local Rotary clubs and districts for polio eradication activities. Of even greater significance has been the huge volunteer army mobilized by Rotary International. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers at the local level are providing support at clinics or mobilizing their communities for immunization or polio eradication activities. More than one million Rotarians worldwide have contributed toward the success of the polio eradication effort to date."

“From the launch of the global initiative in 1988, 5 million people, mainly in the developing world, who would otherwise have been paralyzed, will be walking because they have been immunized against polio. More than 500,000 cases of polio are now prevented each year by the efforts of governments and the partnership of the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the overseas development agencies of donor nations.”

a. Since 1985, when Rotary implemented the PolioPlus program:
"As a result of the efforts of Rotary International and its Foundation and those of our partners, more than two billion children have received oral polio vaccine."

b. immunizations in 2005:
“As part of the global polio eradication effort in 2005, over 390 million children were vaccinated in 47 countries using nearly two billion doses of oral polio vaccine.”

“In 1988, 10% of the world’s children lived in polio-free countries; as of 1 July 2005, over 70% are living in polio-free countries.

“The number of cases of polio has declined by 99% since Rotary launched the PolioPlus program.”

“A child can be protected against polio for as little as US$ .60 worth of vaccine.”

“Since Rotary began its PolioPlus Program, the number of countries which continue to be polio endemic has declined from over 125 countries in 1985 to 4 countries at the start of 2006. The number of polio cases has declined by more than 99% since 1985.

“Two hundred and ten (210) countries, territories and areas are now polio-free, and 134 of these have been certified polio-free by independent commissions. In June 2002, the WHO European Region was certified polio-free, joining the WHO Regions of the Americas and the Western Pacific. More than three billion people, half the world’s population lives in the 134 countries, territories and areas that are now certified polio-free.”

At the start of 2006, transmission of indigenous poliovirus had been interrupted in all but four countries (Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan). However, between early 2003 and mid-2005, poliovirus spread to 21 previously polio-free countries. As of January 2006, only 8 of these countries were still reporting cases (Indonesia, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Angola, Nepal, Niger and Chad).

Strong progress in Asia: Intensified polio campaigns in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan resulted in strong progress especially in the traditional reservoirs of India and Pakistan. Cases were nearly halved in 2004 with 193 reported compared to 336 in 2003. India is making particular progress, with only 63 cases reported in 2005 (as at 10 January 2006), and transmission confined to several key districts.

Progress leads to introduction of new polio vaccine: Progress in Egypt and India in eliminating poliovirus types 2 and 3 prompted the rapid development of monovalent oral polio vaccine type 1 (mOPV1) to interrupt the final chains of transmission in these countries. mOPV1 is more efficient at boosting immunity against poliovirus type 1, than trivalent OPV (which works against all three polio strains). mOPV1 is now being used in India, Egypt and Pakistan, and in response to the outbreaks in Yemen, Indonesia, Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan, and its use is expected to be further expanded in 2006.

To more rapidly interrupt the final strains of type 3 transmission in India, monovalent OPV type 3 (mOPV3) was used for the first time in selected key districts in December 2005.

Africa - polio eradication back on track: Polio eradication is back on track in Africa following the resumption of immunizations in Kano, Nigeria (which had been suspended due to unfounded concerns as to the safety of the polio vaccine). In response to the ongoing outbreak, the African Union (AU) conceived and conducted synchronized immunization campaigns in more than 25 countries. Strong improvements were documented in northern Nigeria, where independent monitoring suggested the number of 'missed' children during campaigns was reduced from 50% in 2004, to 15% in 2005.

Sporadic outbreaks not the major risk to global eradication effort: The sporadic outbreaks of polio in previously polio-free countries, due to imported virus (e.g. Indonesia) do not represent the major risk to the global eradication effort. Historical evidence shows that the rapid implementation of high-quality immunization activities can rapidly stop such sporadic outbreaks.

Public Advocacy Efforts: “In 1995, Rotary International launched a task force to advocate the cause of polio eradication to donor governments. This task force, later to be part of the Polio Advocacy Group, with additional partners, has resulted to date in more than US$1.7 billion in polio-specific grants from the public sector. These advocacy efforts are ongoing and will be continued as necessary.”

“When used as generic terms to refer to organizations who are also sharing in work and funds to eradicate polio, either partners or partnerships is preferred. Generally, coalition should be used to describe a specific group. Donor is a term to describe an entity which is providing funds to eradicate polio and should be limited to those whose primary or exclusive role is in providing funds. “Donor” should be avoided in describing Rotary International or its Foundation.”
“Where partners is used to delineate specific organizations engaged in global eradication of polio spearheading partners refers to the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International (RI), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).”

“Rotary is engaged in one specific coalition; that is the coalition to advocate for increased contributions by the U.S. Government to global polio eradication. The coalition includes The Rotary Foundation of R.I., The United Nations Foundation, The Task Force for Child Survival and Development, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation. Rotary is the leader.”

“Rotary is the leading non-governmental contributor. Whenever possible, most of the polio eradication costs are borne by the polio-endemic countries themselves. However, as the battle against polio is taken to the poorest, least-developed nations on earth, and those in the midst of civil conflict, up to 100 percent of the NID and other polio eradication costs must be met by external donor sources.”

“Polio-specific contributions have been made by the following governments: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.”

"After interruption of wild poliovirus transmission, appropriate containment of poliovirus stocks, and establishment of sufficient polio vaccine stockpiles, immunization with routine OPV will be stopped, resulting in substantial financial savings (note: the magnitude of these savings will depend on national decisions on the introduction of IPV). This stoppage could be as early as three years following the global interruption of wild poliovirus transmission.”

“Once polio has been eradicated, the world will reap substantial financial, as well as humanitarian, dividends due to foregone polio treatment and rehabilitation costs. Depending on national decisions on the future use of polio vaccines, these savings could exceed US$1 billion per year.”

“The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than US$350 million per year is spent on immunizing U.S. children against polio.”

“Type II wild poliovirus has not been found since October 1999, suggesting that transmission of one of the three types of wild poliovirus may have been interrupted.”

In 2003-05, there were over 1,300 cases of paralytic polio following importations of wild poliovirus into 21 previously polio-free countries. Of these countries, eight continue to have active transmission of imported polioviruses, including the recently endemic country Niger, as well as Indonesia, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Angola, Nepal and Chad

“Between 2004 and 2005 there were six episodes of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus resulting in approximately 60 polio cases in the Island of Hispaniola (which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Indonesia, the Philippines, Madagascar, and China. The vaccine-derived virus detected in Minnesota, USA in 2005 did not result in any cases of paralytic polio.

“Since 1998, the inclusion of Vitamin A supplements on NIDs has averted an estimated 1.25 million childhood deaths.”

The Committee further requests that the General Secretary, in official and public releases and statements, follow the above expressions. Finally, the Committee requests that all other RI and TRF officials and spokespersons, and all organizations which report to the Committee, adhere to the approved statements and observe the recommended terminology.