End Polio Now Coordinator (2026-29) PDG Andy Li

For more than three decades, Rotary has led the charge to rid the world of polio. Today, we stand closer than ever to achieving that historic goal.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has released its revised strategic roadmap, extending the certification target to 2029. While the original timeline aimed for 2026, persistent challenges, including security barriers in endemic regions and vaccine hesitancy have required a strategic extension.

This is not a setback. It is a focused path forward to finish what Rotary started.

The Final Milestones

To achieve global certification, the World Health Organization (WHO) has established two non‑negotiable conditions:

• Two continuous years (2026 & 2027) of zero Wild Poliovirus Type 1 cases in the last endemic countries — Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Three consecutive years (2027–2029) with zero cases of circulating variant Poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2) globally.

Only when both milestones are met will the world be officially declared polio‑free.

Rotary’s Role in the Final Push

Rotary has contributed more than $2.7 billion and countless volunteer hours to polio eradication. We have mobilized governments, built partnerships, and inspired generations of Rotarians to take action. Now, as we approach the final stretch, our commitment matters more than ever.

This extended roadmap calls on us to:

• Sustain and increase fundraising efforts
• Advocate for continued government support
• Raise awareness in our communities
• Remain steadfast ambassadors for immunization

The last mile is often the hardest — but it is also the most important.

Together, We Will Finish the Job

A polio‑free world will be one of humanity’s greatest public health achievements. Future generations will know that Rotary did not stop when the finish line moved — we strengthened our resolve.

Let us recommit to the promise we made to the world’s children. End Polio Now!