Tim Mulcrone and Polio Plus

Our Speaker on 4/3-/13 was Tim Mulcrone who is the Polio Plus chair for our Rotary District. Tim is one of the charter members of the Chanhassen Rotary Club. His interest in eliminating polio developed from his childhood experience with his uncle dying of the disease.

Tim gave a brief history of the PolioPlus program; in 1985, the two vaccines were developed and in use, and Rotary International accepted the challenge to eliminate polio from the world. Last year, there were 223 new cases of polio reported worldwide. The cases occurred in three countries. Preliminary info shows a reduction by 50% this year. Hopefully, this is the year!

The on-ground volunteers – the persons delivering the vaccine to the children – are the heroes of the effort. Local officials in some areas have threatened them because of fear of the vaccine, and some of the volunteers have been injured or have been killed.