PRESS RELEASE SAMPLE

(Ceará, Brazil) - With the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rotary clubs of Fortaleza-Alagadiço, Ceará, Brazil, has created a new, powerful, and evidence-based information campaign to promote the polio vaccine, through the use of highlighting facts and statistics from the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization. (1)

Due to the pandemic creating a misconception and concerns for the safety of vaccines in Brazil, Antônio Henrique Barbosa de Vasconcelos, a member of the Rotary Club of Fortaleza-Alagadiço and now a distinguished member of Rotary International’s Board of Directors, created the campaign called Information Saves Lives to teach people to not be afraid of the COVID-19 vaccine. (1)

"The COVID campaign was a complete success. At the launch, we used a room for 500 people. It was packed in the first few minutes," Vasconcelos stated. (2)

With the success of the COVID-19 campaign, Vasconcelos used the same approach to promote the polio vaccination. Although Brazil eradicated polio in 1989, vaccination rates, especially among children under five, hovered at a concerning 72% in 2022, falling short of the National Immunization Program's goal of 90%-95%. (3)

The resulting campaign of this, Together Against Polio, was a great mirror of the previous campaign, featuring vibrant and uplifting artwork designed to appeal to a diverse audience, emphasizing unity and joy in the face of potential health threats. (1)

The September launch of Together Against Polio garnered overwhelming support, with almost 2,000 in- person attendees and over 800 joining online. (1)

Rotary International is a dynamic global network comprising 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers dedicated to envisioning a world where individuals unite to take impactful action, fostering lasting change across the globe, within our local communities, and within ourselves. (1)

For more information, please visit www.rotary.org or call 847-866-3000.