INTERNATIONAL DAYAWARENESS

World Polio Day

Every year on October 24, the world honors a quiet miracle: a disease that once paralyzed hundreds of thousands of children each year now stands on the edge of extinction. World Polio Day celebrates how far we have come and renews the promise to finish the work, for every child, everywhere.

OCT24

Saturday, October 24Every year on October 24

days to go

Roots: Established by Rotary International; the first Rotary polio project began in the Philippines in 1979, and PolioPlus launched in 1985.
Also on Oct 24: World Meningitis Day · World Tripe Day · World Development Information Day
Hashtag: #WorldPolioDay

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3 ways to celebrate

IN THE COMMUNITY

Give to End Polio Now

Donate to Rotary's End Polio Now campaign on October 24, or organize a small fundraiser. Every gift funds vaccines, cold chains, and surveillance in hard-to-reach places.

WITH FRIENDS

Share the 99 percent story

Tell friends that polio cases have fallen over 99 percent since 1988 and wild polio persists in only two countries. Awareness fuels the final push.

AT HOME

Keep your family protected

Use October 24 as a reminder to check that your family's routine immunizations are up to date, and thank the nurses and clinic staff who deliver them.

Plan ahead

World Polio Day is observed on October 24 every year. Here is where it lands for the next ten years, handy for planners, marketers and party people.

2026Sat, Oct 24this year

2027Sun, Oct 24

2028Tue, Oct 24

2029Wed, Oct 24

2030Thu, Oct 24

2031Fri, Oct 24

2032Sun, Oct 24

2033Mon, Oct 24

2034Tue, Oct 24

2035Wed, Oct 24

2036Fri, Oct 24

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Fast facts

1988Since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative formed in 1988, polio cases worldwide have fallen by more than 99 percent.

Wild poliovirus is now endemic in only two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The world is this close.

The story

Few stories in public health carry this much hope. From a scientist's breakthrough to a global promise kept for nearly four decades, here is the road to a polio-free world.

Read the full story

Eradication is a team effort, and this day is your invitation to join it. Here are three meaningful ways to take part.