45,000 Children Immunized Thanks to the Queen Symphony

Dr. Tom Davies and Dr. Bill Johnson (left) who staged the Queen Symphony at the PAC on May 17 and 18, present a check for $15,000 to the three Rotary Clubs in San Luis Obispo. This money will be forwarded to Rotary International for the Polio Plus Program where it will be matched two for one by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation for a total of $45,000, enough to immunize 45,000 children against poliovirus.

 

Rotary, along with our partners—the Centers for Disease Control, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation—has reduced polio cases by 99 percent worldwide since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979. And through our annual National Immunization Day (NID), Rotarians have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. 

 

However, polio remains endemic in three countries—Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Until poliovirus transmission is stopped in these countries, all countries remain at risk of another outbreak, especially in the "poliovirus importation belt" of countries from west Africa to the Horn of Africa. It's estimated that the cost will be $5.5 billion over a six year period. As you can see, your support of fundraisers like the Queen Concert is a critical component of this global health initiative.

 

Through 2018, every dollar that Rotary donates will become $3, thanks to the two-for-one match by the Gates Foundation. If you've been touched by polio or know someone who has, donate here. Every dollar helps immunize three children.

 

We extend a big THANK YOU to Dr. Davies and Dr. Johnson, to everyone who participated in the concert (all 230 of you!), and to the public who attended the two sold-out concerts.