Rotary President Calls for 97% Immunization to End Polio

On Wednesday, Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo addressed the Nigerian government in Abuja, urging them to immunize at least 97% of children under five years old to achieve complete eradication of polio. Arezzo commended Nigeria's progress in polio immunization but cautioned against complacency, stating that a vaccination coverage rate of at least 90% to 97% is essential for the final eradication of the disease.

He noted that Africa was once considered a challenging region for polio elimination, alongside India, but has made significant strides, achieving certification as polio-free in 2020. Despite this progress, Arezzo pointed out that vaccine-derived polio cases continue to emerge in Nigeria due to gaps in immunization coverage.

He emphasized the introduction of a stable vaccine over the last two years, which has significantly reduced the risk of vaccine-derived variants. Joshua Hassan, the former chairman of the Nigerian National Polio Plus Committee, expressed concerns over emerging vaccine-derived polio cases in Kebbi State, linking them to security challenges and volunteer fatigue among Rotarians.