Celebrating 120 Years of Solidarity in Advancing Health and Well-Being, Leaving No One Behind
When PAHO was created in 1902, the highly contagious nature of polio would not be discovered by the medical community until 1905. Eventually, with the development of the vaccine and tireless immunization efforts supported by PAHO, in 1994 the Region of the Americas became the first one in the world to be certified polio-free by WHO.
PARALYSIS CAN LAST A LIFETIME
THE VIRUS OFTEN AFFECTS CHILDREN UNDER 5
THERE'S NO CURE, BUT IT'S PREVENTABLE BY VACCINES
© PAHO/WHO Peru, Junin | 1991. Little Luis Fermín Tenorio Cortez the last polio case reported in the Americas.
To combat poliomyelitis, PAHO collaborated on trials of live attenuated poliovirus vaccine; sponsored two international conferences in 1959 and 1960 for exchange of experience among researchers from throughout the world on biological, immunologic, and epidemiologic aspects of the disease; and assisted in organizing programs and making arrangements for the supply of vaccines and equipment.
By the early 1970s, a marked decline in cases was being registered.
For over 40 years, the success of the Expanded Program on Immunization has made the Region of the Americas a global leader in the elimination and control of vaccine-preventable diseases such as smallpox, polio, rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, measles, and neonatal tetanus. Since the creation of the EPI in 1977, countries have moved from using six vaccines in their national vaccination schemes, to an average of more than 16 vaccines, which represents greater protection for the population.
In 1988, the 41st World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on the worldwide eradication of polio, which set the stage for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative - spearheaded by national governments, WHO, Rotary International, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and supported by key partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The move followed the certification of smallpox eradication in 1980, the progress made in the 1980s towards the elimination of poliovirus in the Americas, and Rotary International’s commitment to raise funds to protect all children from this disease.
"As individuals, and as a society, we aspire to achieve the highest possible degree of well-being. Vaccines applied systematically at the population level have been, and will continue to be, a fundamental pillar to achieve this!”
Dr. Daniel Salas
Unit Chief, Comprehensive Family Immunization
