"Polio will be history, like smallpox," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, believing total eradication is within sight.

And Ban credits the efforts of Chicago-based Rotary International and other United Nations partners in this effort

The military has immunized more children than private health providers.

Based on data on military care and treatment by private industry providers presented by the Department of Defense at the Military Health System conference on Monday, Air Force health personnel immunized 86 percent of eligible recipients, compared to 84 percent immunized by the highest-rated state and 77 percent nationally

An estimated 32 million Pakistani children will receive an anti-polio vaccine as Islamabad launched a three-day, nationwide "Polio Immunization" plan.

According to Dr. Mohammad Amjad, Pakistani Minister for Inter Provincial coordination, the door-to-door campaign will immunize children under 5-years-old. The government has dispatched some 86,000 experts across the country to provide the polio drops

Immunizations are not required to visit China, but it is best to take several vaccinations before attending the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing from Aug. 8 to Aug. 24.

"Taking a few minutes to make sure you have the proper vaccinations will give a better chance of avoiding any dangerous medical problems when you're far from home," said Debra Amos, a travel nurse with The Methodist Hospital Wellness Services in Houston

The government of Japan will provide funds to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the eradication of polio in Pakistan and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed in this connection on Monday.

Federal Health Minister of Pakistan Ejaz Rahim will witness the ceremony while Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Seiji Kojima and UNICEF Representative Martin Mogwanja will sign and exchange notes, according to reports