VACCINES: Support congressional funding

We are so close to global polio eradication. Only one case has been reported so far this year. On April 26, World Health Organization (WHO) will launch the new investment case for the GPEI’s Strategy: Delivering on a Promise. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros and UNICEF Director Catherine Russell will present the eradication progress.

Almost 1.5 million children die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases. As a polio victim, I saw many children die prior to the vaccine development. When I travel to low-resource countries, I see the devastation the disease causes. One memorable case was in northern India, where the teenager walked on all four limbs to get around.

As we have seen from the COVID pandemic, strong health systems are critical for global preparedness, when it comes to disease outbreaks. Stopping a disease at its source, like COVID-19, would have prevented millions of American deaths. Every $1 spent on immunizations, the world sees $44 in economic benefits, plus the benefit of saving lives.

You can help advocate for lifesaving vaccines by contacting Senators Risch and Crapo and Representative Fulcher to ask that they fund global childhood immunization programs in the 2023 U.S. Budget. Access to lifesaving vaccines in low resource countries can end the spread of deadly diseases.

LORNA SCHUMANN

Post Falls