World Polio Day every October 24 highlights global efforts to eliminate polio and the importance of vaccination in protecting children from the disease. It is also an opportunity to highlight the importance of all mothers, fathers, caregivers, health workers and volunteers who play a key role in getting polio vaccines to children and their communities.
The Region of the Americas was certified polio-free in 1994. Since then, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has invited countries to maintain high vaccination coverage and strengthen surveillance to keep communities safe from the risk of a possible event or outbreak.
Let's #EndPolio
Message by Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director
Find out more about this disease
I got the disease when I was one year old, and I had sequels from that time... until I was eight years old I had to wear a harness, a kind of leather and metal brace that allowed me to support my leg so I could walk..."
Yes, there were vaccinations (against polio), but at that time parents and families did not get vaccinated much... Get your children vaccinated, from the time they were babies. So that they don't go through what I went through..."
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