Polio was one of the most feared diseases of the 20th century, crippling and killing hundreds of thousands of children worldwide each year. Thanks to the development of the Salk and Sabin vaccines and a global immunization campaign, cases of wild polio have been reduced to fewer than 50 per year, limited to just two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan.
This worldwide effort has been led by Rotary International, whose members have personally contributed more than $2.7 billion toward polio eradication. Rotary has partnered with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to immunize over three billion children and bring polio to the brink of extinction.
The Rotary Club of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff is proud to host this exhibit to raise awareness of polio’s history and the ongoing efforts to eliminate the disease completely. Visitors are encouraged to explore the exhibit, read historical accounts, and learn how they can support the final push for global eradication.
In addition to this special exhibit, the Rotary Club of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff meets every Wednesday at 7:15 AM at the Lake Forest Club for breakfast, networking, and engaging speakers.
