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Polio Surveillance activities in Mogadishu, Somalia

Polio Surveillance activities in Mogadishu, Somalia

by | May 28, 2021 | Terry's Polio Eradication Update

What is that Polio Picture? This picture shows Polio Surveillance activities in Mogadishu, Somalia.  Surveillance is critical to assure the eradication of the Poliovirus in a community.

 A Win Against Polio is a Win for Global Health!

How Many Children have we saved from the paralysis of Polio?
That number has now reached 20 Million! That’s a number to celebrate and to share!

2021 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 94 – Afghanistan – 38 (308 in 2020), Angola – 0 (3 in 2020),Benin – 1 (3 in 2020), Burkina Faso – 1 (62 in 2020), Cameroon – 0 (7 in 2020), CAR – 0 (4 in 2020), Chad – 0 (99 in 2020), Congo – 2 (2 in 2020), Cote d’ Ivoire – 0 (72 in 2020), DRC – 7 (81 in 2020), Ethiopia – 0 (26 in 2020), Ghana – 0 (11 in 2020), Guinea – 5 (44 in 2020), Liberia – 2 (0 in 2020),Madagascar – 4 (2 in 2020), Mali – 0 (48 in 2020), Malaysia – 0 (1 in 2020),  Niger – 0 (8 in 2020), Nigeria – 6 (8 in 2020), Pakistan – 7 (135 in 2020), Philippines – 0 (1 in 2020), Senegal  – 4 (0 in 2020) ,Sierra Leone – 4 (10 in 2020), Somalia – 0 (13 in 2020), South Sudan – 6 (50 in 2020), Sudan – 0 (58 in 2020), Tajikistan – 6 (1 in 2020), Togo – 0 (9 in 2020), and Yemen – 2 (33 in 2020).

A total of 1,087 Vaccine Derived Polio cases were reported in 26 countries in 2020.

Quote of the Day

“Rotary is the heart and soul of Polio eradication.” – Bill Gates, Jr 

The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries:

Pakistan

 

 

0 new Polio cases reported this week.
1 Wild Polio cases – 2021. The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 1/27/21.
84 Wild Polio cases – 2020.  One WPV1 & CVDPV2 Positive Environmental Sample was reported this week in Pakistan.

Afghanistan

 

 

0 new Polio cases reported this past week.
1 Wild Polio case – 2021. The most recent cases had an onset of paralysis on 1/1/21.
56 Wild Polio cases – 2020.  No WPV1 & CVDPV2-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.

Our Goal is Global Polio Eradication!!

Terry Ziegler, Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser Rotary Region 36

Child in Pakistan having her pinkie finger marked

Child in Pakistan having her pinkie finger marked

by | May 22, 2021 | Terry's Polio Eradication Update

What is that Polio Picture? This picture shows a child in Pakistan having her pinkie finger marked – post Polio vaccination.

Bears Repeating – Exceptional Progress!  “For the first time, all of the sites that undertake environmental testing for the wild poliovirus in Pakistan and in Afghanistan near the border have concurrently shown no presence of the wild polio virus.  This is a sign of tremendous progress in the 35 plus year effort to eradicate polio.  We have also gone 14 weeks without a wild poliovirus case. There have been just 4 cases of the wild polio virus in the last six months.  We have seen 2 wild polio cases since January 1st.  Certainly, we will likely see more cases and  we will later find positive samples of wild polio virus in the environment, but  this is a good sign we are definitely getting closer.   It is remarkably similar to what we saw in India a decade ago.  And we are also seeing fewer vaccine derived cases than we saw last year.  With all the world’s challenges, it is heartening to have good news.”

Michael K. McGovern, International Polio Plus Committee Chair

 

A Win Against Polio is a Win for Global Health!

How Many Children have we saved from the paralysis of Polio?
That number has now reached 20 Million! That’s a number to celebrate and to share!

2021 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 84 – Afghanistan – 38 (308 in 2020), Angola – 0 (3 in 2020),Benin – 1 (3 in 2020), Burkina Faso – 0 (62 in 2020), Cameroon – 0 (7 in 2020), CAR – 0 (4 in 2020), Chad – 0 (99 in 2020), Congo – 1 (2 in 2020), Cote d’ Ivoire – 0 (72 in 2020), DRC – 2 (81 in 2020), Ethiopia – 0 (26 in 2020), Ghana – 0 (11 in 2020), Guinea – 5 (44 in 2020), Liberia – 2 (0 in 2020),Madagascar – 1 (2 in 2020), Mali – 0 (47 in 2020), Malaysia – 0 (1 in 2020),  Niger – 0 (8 in 2020), Nigeria – 6 (8 in 2020), Pakistan – 7 (135 in 2020), Philippines – 0 (1 in 2020), Senegal  – 4 (0 in 2020) ,Sierra Leone – 4 (10 in 2020), Somalia – 0 (13 in 2020), South Sudan – 6 (50 in 2020), Sudan – 0 (58 in 2020), Tajikistan – 6 (1 in 2020), Togo – 0 (9 in 2020), and Yemen – 2 (33 in 2020).

A total of 1,086 Vaccine Derived Polio cases were reported in 26 countries in 2020.

Quote of the Day

“I believe we can change the world, one life at a time.  No project is too small or insignificant, especially to those who benefit.  My hope is that these seeds of service will blossom and live on for countless generations to come.”  – Bhichai Rattakul, RI President 2002-03

The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries:

Pakistan

 

 

0 new Polio cases reported this week.
1 Wild Polio cases – 2021. The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 1/27/21.
84 Wild Polio cases – 2020.  No WPV1 & CVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Pakistan.

Afghanistan

 

 

0 new Polio cases reported this past week.
1 Wild Polio case – 2021. The most recent cases had an onset of paralysis on 1/1/21.
56 Wild Polio cases – 2020.  No WPV1 & CVDPV2-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.

Our Goal is Global Polio Eradication!!

Terry Ziegler, Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser Rotary Region 36

Grace Kelly distributes March of Dimes literature

Grace Kelly distributes March of Dimes literature

by | May 18, 2021 | Terry's Polio Eradication Update

What is that Polio Picture? This picture shows Actress Grace Kelly as she distributed March of Dimes literature to leaders of the Mothers’ March on Polio. Even long before the GPEI was formed, Monaco played a leading role in early initiatives to develop a polio vaccine. In the 1950s, Her Serene Highness Princess Grace was an advocate for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis in the United States of America, founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (himself a polio survivor).  See the Thanks Monaco note below.

Exceptional Progress!  “For the first time, all of the sites that undertake environmental testing for the wild poliovirus in Pakistan and in Afghanistan near the border have concurrently shown no presence of the wild polio virus.  This is a sign of tremendous progress in the 35 plus year effort to eradicate polio.

We have also gone 14 weeks without a wild poliovirus case. There have been just 4 cases of the wild polio virus in the last six months.  We have seen 2 wild polio cases since January 1st. 

Certainly, we will likely see more cases and  we will later find positive samples of wild polio virus in the environment, but  this is a good sign we are definitely getting closer.   It is remarkably similar to what we saw in India a decade ago.  And we are also seeing fewer vaccine derived cases than we saw last year.

With all the world’s challenges, it is heartening to have good news.” Michael K. McGovern, International Polio Plus Committee Chair

Thanks Monaco! – the largest per capita donor to the GPEI, contributed €50 000 to WHO for global Polio activities in 2021.

Thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has approved a total of US$ 10 million and US$ 5 million in funding for cVDPV Outbreak Response in 2021. Funds will be used to implement quality and timely outbreak response immunization activities as needed, including planned campaigns using nOPV2 and mOPV2 in countries of the African Region and potentially outbreak response campaigns in the Eastern Mediterranean and European Regions.

Congratulations to Rotary In Great Britain and Ireland for their very successful Rotary Day Purple4Polio Tea Party – Celebrating Rotary’s 116th birthday!

 

​Almost Three Billion Children have now received the Oral Polio Vaccine as a result of the Rotary inspired PolioPlus Campaign!

 

A Win Against Polio is a Win for Global Health!

How Many Children have we saved from the paralysis of Polio?
That number has now reached 20 Million! That’s a number to celebrate and to share!

2021 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 77 – Afghanistan – 33 (308 in 2020), Angola – 0 (3 in 2020),Benin – 1 (3 in 2020), Burkina Faso – 0 (62 in 2020), Cameroon – 0 (7 in 2020), CAR – 0 (4 in 2020), Chad – 0 (99 in 2020), Congo – 1 (2 in 2020), Cote d’ Ivoire – 0 (72 in 2020), DRC – 2 (81 in 2020), Ethiopia – 0 (26 in 2020), Ghana – 0 (11 in 2020), Guinea – 5 (44 in 2020), Liberia – 2 (0 in 2020),Madagascar – 1 (2 in 2020), Mali – 0 (46 in 2020), Malaysia – 0 (1 in 2020),  Niger – 0 (8 in 2020), Nigeria – 5 (8 in 2020), Pakistan – 6 (135 in 2020), Philippines – 0 (1 in 2020), Senegal  – 4 (0 in 2020) ,Sierra Leone – 4 (10 in 2020), Somalia – 0 (13 in 2020), South Sudan – 6 (50 in 2020), Sudan – 0 (58 in 2020), Tajikistan – 6 (1 in 2020), Togo – 0 (9 in 2020), and Yemen – 2 (33 in 2020).

A total of 1,085 Vaccine Derived Polio cases were reported in 26 countries in 2020.

Quote of the Day

“How hard is hitting a baseball?  You ever walk into a pitch black room full of furniture that you have never been in before and try to walk through it without bumping into anything?  Well, it’s harder than that.”  Ted Kluszewski –
Cinncinatti Reds First Baseman 1947-57

The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries:

Pakistan

 

 

0 new Polio cases reported this week.
1 Wild Polio cases – 2021. The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 1/27/21.
84 Wild Polio cases – 2020.  No WPV1 & CVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Pakistan.

Afghanistan

 

 

0 new Polio cases reported this past week.
1 Wild Polio case – 2021. The most recent cases had an onset of paralysis on 1/1/21.
56 Wild Polio cases – 2020.  Two WPV1 & CVDPV2-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.

Our Goal is Global Polio Eradication!!

Terry Ziegler, Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser Rotary Region 36

Dr Ellyn Ogden has led polio eradication for USAID since 1997

Dr Ellyn Ogden has led polio eradication for USAID since 1997

by | May 8, 2021 | Terry's Polio Eradication Update

Ellyn W. Ogden, MPH

What is that Polio Picture? This picture shows Ellyn W. Ogden, MPH.

On Ellyn Ogden’s desk sits a decades old coffee mug. It has a special significance for the woman who has led polio eradication for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) since 1997. On the mug, are ten women, the Ladies in Polio, who at the time were the only women participating in GPEI meetings, and only 2 of them were in leadership positions.  Ellyn takes her status as a leader in polio eradication seriously and by her actions demonstrates commitment, determination and the need to engage women at all levels of GPEI.  As an epidemiologist, public health practitioner and trained ’devil’s advocate’ Ellyn oversees what is cumulatively a $1.3 Billion investment, spanning 30 countries and covering all aspects of polio eradication from surveillance to communication to containment to NGO and civil society engagement.  She is the only female member of the European Certification Commission for polio eradication.

ELLYN OGDEN, MPH Worldwide Polio Eradication Coordinator USAID Global Health and Infectious Disease Conference

DEI – As a global network that strives to build a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change, Rotary values diversity and celebrates the contributions of people of all backgrounds, regardless of their age, ethnicity, race, color, abilities, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

​Almost Three Billion Children have now received the Oral Polio Vaccine as a result of the Rotary inspired PolioPlus Campaign!

 

A Win Against Polio is a Win for Global Health!

How Many Children have we saved from the paralysis of Polio?
That number has now reached 20 Million! That’s a number to celebrate and to share!

2021 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 74 -Afghanistan – 33 (308 in 2020), Angola – 0 (3 in 2020),Benin – 0 (3 in 2020), Burkina Faso – 0 (61 in 2020), Cameroon – 0 (7 in 2020), CAR – 0 (4 in 2020), Chad – 0 (99 in 2020), Congo – 1 (2 in 2020), Cote d’ Ivoire – 0 (72 in 2020), DRC – 2 (81 in 2020), Ethiopia – 0 (26 in 2020), Ghana – 0 (11 in 2020), Guinea – 5 (44 in 2020), Liberia – 1 (0 in 2020),Madagascar – 1 (2 in 2020), Mali – 0 (46 in 2020), Malaysia – 0 (1 in 2020),  Niger – 0 (8 in 2020), Nigeria – 5 (8 in 2020), Pakistan – 6 (135 in 2020), Philippines – 0 (1 in 2020), Senegal  – 4 (0 in 2020) ,Sierra Leone – 4 (10 in 2020), Somalia – 0 (13 in 2020), South Sudan – 6 (50 in 2020), Sudan – 0 (58 in 2020), Tajikistan – 6 (1 in 2020), Togo – 0 (9 in 2020), and Yemen – 0 (33 in 2020).

A total of 1,084 Vaccine Derived Polio cases were reported in 26 countries in 2020.

Quote of the Day

“Will you look back on life and say ‘I wish I had, or I’m glad I did?”  Zig Ziglar

The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries:

Pakistan

 

 

0 new Polio cases reported this week.
1 Wild Polio cases – 2021. The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 1/27/21.
84 Wild Polio cases – 2020.  Two WPV1 & CVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Pakistan.

Afghanistan

 

 

0 new Polio cases reported this past week.
1 Wild Polio case – 2021. The most recent cases had an onset of paralysis on 1/1/21.
56 Wild Polio cases – 2020.  No WPV1 & CVDPV2-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.

Our Goal is Global Polio Eradication!!

Terry Ziegler, Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser Rotary Region 36

What is a vaccine cold chain?

What is a vaccine cold chain?

by | Apr 30, 2021 | MOJO Blog

by Elizabeth Schroeder
reposted from Rotary.org

The logistics of shipping and storing vaccines

A mass, worldwide vaccination effort is crucial to defeating the COVID-19 pandemic — but the logistics of getting it done are incredibly complex. Two of the most complicating factors? Storage and transportation.  

Distributing vaccine doses is much more elaborate than simply putting vials in a box and loading them onto a truck. From the time a vaccine leaves the manufacturer to the time it’s administered to a patient, it needs to be kept in ideal and highly specific conditions. For example, Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine needs to be stored at a frigid -70° C.  That’s why the success of large-scale immunization efforts is dependent on a reliable cold chain: a system of safely storing and transporting vaccines at recommended temperatures.

What makes up a cold chain?

A seamless cold chain combines three equally important elements:

  • Equipment: in most cases, the best storage option is a pharmaceutical-grade unit, specially designed for housing vaccines. Unlike the freezer where you keep your ice cream, these can cost upwards of $15,000. Specialized portable coolers are also important for moving vaccines from one location to another.
  • Personnel: staff and volunteers tasked with handling vaccines must be thoroughly trained on safe storage and transportation practices. This is particularly important because different vaccines require different conditions.
  • Processes: vaccinating facilities must have clear, detailed, and up-to-date instructions for vaccine handling — plus contingency plans in case of emergency. What if the facility loses power? What if there’s a weather event? These questions and more should have thorough answers.
What happens if the chain breaks?

Vaccines can only protect against disease if they’re delivered safely. Overexposure to heat, cold, or light can compromise vaccine quality. Not only does this diminish the vaccine’s effectiveness; it also leads to wasted vaccine supply and financial loss. Between spoiled vaccines, replacement costs, and administrative expenses, cold chain errors cost healthcare shippers billions of dollars a year.  

How we help

For more than 30 years, Rotary members have been supporting the safe transport of polio vaccines to every corner of the globe. When it comes to COVID-19, we’re just as committed to bringing vaccines to all. Learn more about how we’re playing our part: http://on.rotary.org/covid19efforts.