That’s not true everywhere. Polio\u00a0remains endemic in northern Nigeria and parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, with a total of 37 cases last year. While that’s just three countries, that is three countries too many. This week is World Immunization Week, which is the perfect time to focus on changing that.<\/p>\n

We have made so much<\/em> progress. In 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio worldwide. The enormous progress is the result of global efforts by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). And we have to keep it going because we are\u00a0so close<\/em> to\u00a0eradicating the disease.<\/p>\n

Vaccines are one of the safest, most cost-effective ways to save children\u2019s lives, improve health, and ensure long-term economic prosperity. In the past 20 years, immunization has prevented 20 million deaths globally.\u00a0Great strides have been made against measles, rotavirus, and pneumococcal disease.<\/p>\n

But still, the United Nations health agency this week released a report finding that\u00a0the full potential of vaccines is still not fully utilized. Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a vaccine-preventable disease? That’s 1.5 million children every year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

$\"\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

We can do better. We must do better.<\/p>\n

When we do better,\u00a0we all benefit. My dear friend whose daughter is undergoing chemotherapy benefits when she doesn’t have to worry about the diseases her child who cannot get vaccines may be exposed to. The same is true for my friend who has an immune-compromised son due to an organ transplant. Infants too young for vaccines and the elderly are also protected.<\/p>\n

In addition, a healthy community is a\u00a0stable community, and stable communities are less likely to become safe havens for terrorism.<\/p>\n

If you want to help this World Immunization Week, there are a few things you can do.<\/p>\n

Let\u00a0your lawmakers know\u00a0that you support vaccines and want the federal budget to fully fund global child immunization programs for Fiscal Year 2018. You can do so here.<\/p>\n

You can donate here<\/a>\u00a0and help\u00a0bring lifesaving vaccines to hard-to-reach communities. If you want to join in the fight, become a Shot@Life Champion here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You May Also Like:\u00a0<\/strong>How high school registration reminded me I\u2019m a lucky mom #Blogust<\/a><\/p>\n

Prior Post:\u00a0<\/strong>Born in China movie review and educator\u2019s guide<\/a><\/p>\n

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