A vial of polio vaccine tells the tale of one of medicine's great innovators. From the Travel Channel

An animated video, from the GPEI, explaining the relationships between gender and polio eradication.

Today my six-year-old son, David, started karate*. To most parents, such an occasion would be one of many proud events in the growth of their child; however, for my wife, Kathy, and me it was much more.

"Containment of polioviruses is crucial to securing a lasting polio-free world. Polioviruses will be kept after eradication in a limited number of laboratories and vaccine manufacturing facilities worldwide. Containment of these viruses is about making sure that safeguards are in place to minimize the risk of their release into communities, which could have devastating consequences."

David contracted polio from the live polio vaccine when he was a baby. It was later discovered he had a serious underlying immune disorder, which meant he was susceptible to many infections, including polio.

"Polio can’t be cured, but it can be prevented. Two important tools help to prevent polio – two safe, effective vaccines. Find out about the oral polio vaccine and the inactivated poliovirus vaccine and their roles in the polio eradication effort."

"Coffee with the Polio Experts" featuring Dr. Carolyn Sein from WHO

Every child deserves to live a life free of polio - no matter who they are or no matter where they were born.

Sadly, many barriers can stand between a child and a vaccine.

"Anytime a child is paralyzed by polio in any country, the World Health Organization and its partners move fast to stop the outbreak."

"The search for the poliovirus is triggered when any child is found with acute flaccid paralysis. From the most remote communities to the laboratory, the World Health Organization makes sure that the pieces of the surveillance system work together so that if the poliovirus is circulating anywhere in the world it will be found – and stopped."