From 430 B.C. to the present day, people’s growing understanding of vaccination has changed the world. Today, vaccines protect against diseases such as diphtheria, cholera, tuberculosis, measles, polio, and more. Smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980. And in 1985, Rotary members who were inspired to add a second disease to the list of those eradicated launched the PolioPlus program to stop the spread of polio through strategic global immunization efforts. Thanks to the commitment of Rotary and our partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, wild poliovirus cases worldwide have been reduced by 99.9% since 1988, with only two countries still reporting cases — Afghanistan and Pakistan. This year, Rotary clubs and districts are leveraging their experience fighting polio and mobilizing volunteers to support COVID-19 vaccination efforts, while continuing to ensure that children around the world are vaccinated against polio.