IT TAKES just two drops of vaccine to protect a child from polio.
But, sadly, though the disease has been eradicated in this country, it is still endemic in a number of other countries including north-east India.
And it is there that Fixby couple John and Chris Philips have been working closely with a mass immunisation project which aims to see polio eradicated in the sub-continent by the end of next year.
The couple got involved with the project as part of Rotary International and over four years have made many trips to India to help vaccinate children.
Now their work and that of other volunteers has helped to reduce the numbers of children in India who fall victim to polio.
It is a tribute to their dedication and that of the rest of the immunisation team that the number of victims per year is falling and that more children are taking up the vaccine.
But the Philips still have a warning for the world. One child with polio is a threat to the well-being of children everywhere.
What more incentive is needed than to help provide a vital vaccine that can help the world’s children avoid this dreadful illness.
