There is a virus that infects all of us, around the world, in both rich and poor countries. In fact, most of us have had it by the age of 5. It affects the stomach and intestines, causing severe diarrhea and vomiting. This virus is also highly contagious, and hundreds of thousands of children die from it each year and millions more are hospitalized. And yet, we have safe and effective vaccines for it.

It is called rotavirus. The good news is, in the last 10 years, over 75 countries have introduced rotavirus vaccines into their routine childhood immunization efforts. This is the fastest scale-up of a childhood vaccine, ever. The problem is, even though rotavirus vaccination is the best way to protect children, not all countries have adopted the vaccines. To see the countries that have introduced rotavirus vaccines and to learn more about the health benefits, click here.

PATH, an international nonprofit organization, found that if the vaccine were introduced to Iran, by 2023, 65 percent of deaths caused by rotavirus could be prevented. By 2033, more than 130,000 lives could be saved from rotavirus in Kenya, Senegal, and Uganda combined. PATH has worked with the CDC, WHO, UNICEF, vaccine manufacturers and countries around the world to bring the vaccine to those that still need it. It is a work in progress, but they hope to make it a more cost-effective and accessible option that will save even more lives.

To learn more about the amazing history of the rotavirus vaccine rollout, and to find out how to get involved, check out the following video: