Webinar to celebrate 30 years wild polio-free in the Americas

Objectives

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the elimination of wild poliovirus in the Region and the importance of this milestone to show how beneficial and necessary vaccines are and the importance of strengthening of immunization programs in the countries.
To highlight the benefits of the polio vaccine and the importance of continuing vaccination and surveillance.
To share the story of a polio survivor and the impact of the disease on her life, to make new generations aware of the benefits of vaccines.
To hear recommendations from experts on immunization programs, communicable diseases, and public health.

Hour	Topic	Panelists
10:00 - 10:10	Introduction and opening remarks	Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Dr. Daniel Salas, Executive Manager, Comprehensive Program on Immunization, PAHO
10:10 - 10:50	Life story, the challenges she has faced and how polio has impacted her life and that of her family	Dr. Roxana Castillo, a vaccine specialist who works in the parasitology laboratory of the Alonso Suazo Health Center in Honduras and is a polio survivor
	What have been the challenges over the years and what does this achievement of 30 years without wild poliovirus in the Americas mean to you?	Dr. Marcelo Haick, Rotary International Invited guests
	The recent outbreaks that have appeared in the world, especially in the Region, and the importance of surveillance and maintaining high vaccination coverage
	Is global polio eradication achievable, and what needs to be improved politically, in terms of resources or coordination to achieve it?
	What do you consider to be the main challenges facing immunization programs in our region today?
10:50 - 11:10	Q&A
11:10 - 11:15	Closing remarks