Understanding the role of gender in polio eradication
The wild poliovirus still paralyzes children in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In those countries and many others, gender can play a role in vaccination efforts. It’s important to consider how mothers and fathers make decisions about their children’s health care and to understand who in a community is delivering immunizations, says Heather Monnet, external relations officer and gender focal point for polio eradication for the World Health Organization. Recognizing the importance of women who work in the polio program and dismantling gender-related barriers in order to reach all children with the polio vaccine are key to overcoming the remaining challenges to ending polio.
It’s World Immunization Week!
You can promote the power of vaccines and support polio eradication during World Immunization Week, 24-30 April. Go to the World Immunization Week Toolkit to find graphics and social media posts that demonstrate how our fight against polio proves that vaccines work. Because Rotary members and our partners have worked hard to counter vaccine hesitancy and reach all children with the polio vaccine, the world has seen a 99.9% reduction in polio cases since 1988.