As the first organization to envision a polio-free world through mass immunization of children, Rotary believes the decision to vaccinate is a humanitarian imperative based in scientific evidence. While we acknowledge and respect our members’ divergent religious, cultural, and political beliefs, The Rotary International Board of Directors and Rotary Foundation Trustees take the following positions:
Global vaccination is critical to ending the pandemic, and we strongly encourage vaccination for all individuals, including our members.
Misinformation hinders the fight against COVID-19, and we are committed to providing our members with science-based information.
Rotary is engaged in ensuring equity in vaccine access to all people. Through joint efforts with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, we are leveraging our frontline experience with polio to facilitate vaccine delivery.
Rotary salutes health care workers everywhere as clinical and hospital staff, public health workers, and long-term care providers continue to deliver lifesaving services. We encourage clubs to offer recognition and encouragement to these heroes.
Rotary and Rotaract clubs are encouraged to redouble their efforts to support COVID-19 prevention and vaccination efforts.
As one of the greatest advances of modern medicine, vaccines have eliminated or controlled numerous diseases such as polio, smallpox, measles, and Ebola, and save millions of lives each year. COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be safe and effective at helping protect against severe disease and death from the novel coronavirus, including known circulating variants.
The eradication of polio remains the goal of the highest order for Rotary. We can continue to apply the lessons we have learned in fighting polio to COVID-19 response efforts.