"WE’RE STILL HERE!" is PHI's annual awareness campaign, held annually the second week of October. The campaign was established in 2007 with the goal of educating the healthcare community and the public that there are survivors of polio still in need of health care and still making the world a better place for all people with disabilities.

ANNOUNCING THE 2025 "WE'RE STILL HERE!" CAMPAIGN
Each October, Post-Polio Health International launches our “WE’RE STILL HERE!” campaign to shine a light on the resilience, contributions, and ongoing lives of polio survivors. This year, we are highlighting the vital role of vaccines—honoring the progress made in nearly eradicating polio and affirming the importance of protecting future generations from a disease we know all too well.
This year’s theme: “Protecting the Future: Lessons from Polio”
This past month, Florida announced its plan to end all vaccine mandates in the state. Though authorities have since walked it back a bit, there are still no plans to require incoming kindergartners to get the polio vaccine. This decision comes amidst rising vaccine hesitancy in the United States. Vaccination rates have fallen in nearly every state amongst incoming kindergartners. As a result, the US has already seen multiple measles outbreaks in recent years.
With vaccine hesitancy on the rise, we must lift up the voices of those who know firsthand the life-altering consequences of vaccine-preventable diseases. As survivors of polio, we can speak with authority about what it means to live with lasting disability from a preventable illness and why we can’t allow decades of progress in preventing disease, disability, and death to slip away.
Survivors’ stories can cut through misinformation and reach people on a personal level. Statistics and scientific data are important, but they often don’t change minds on their own. When people hear directly from those who lived through polio—their struggles, their resilience, and the lasting effects of the disease—it transforms the abstract into something real. A survivor’s voice makes the consequences of polio tangible, and their perspective carries a moral authority that facts alone cannot. By sharing their lived experience, polio survivors not only counter misinformation but also inspire empathy, understanding and action.
How You Can Take Part
This October, we invite you to join PHI in spreading a simple but powerful message: vaccines save lives.
- Tell Your Story: Members are encouraged to write short reflections (200–400 words) on what life with polio has taught them about the importance of vaccines. Send your stories and photos to info@post-polio.org. During “We’re Still Here!” week, PHI will feature your stories on our website and social media feeds.
- Share It with Others: Reach out to local television stations and/or newspapers and tell them about our campaign. Offer to tell your story and explain why it matters against the backdrop of rising vaccine hesitancy. Not sure what to say? Use our sample letter to the editor.
- Start a Conversation: Post your story or a photo on your own social media with the hashtag #WereStillHere2025 and tag PHI. Tell others why you believe vaccines are essential.
- Educate & Advocate: Use PHI’s campaign toolkit (downloadable resources, talking points, and shareable graphics) to spread accurate information about polio, vaccines, and the dangers of hesitancy.
During “We’re Still Here!” week, PHI will:
- Feature survivor stories and quotes across social media.
- Publish your stories tying personal experience to public health advocacy on our website.
- Host a live online discussion with survivors and vaccine advocates to share perspectives on fighting misinformation.
- Provide easy-to-share graphics and fact sheets that survivors and allies can use in their own networks.
Together, let’s make this year’s campaign a call to action: to honor those that survived polio, to protect future generations, and to remind the world that vaccines are one of our greatest public health achievements.
This October, remind the world that “WE’RE STILL HERE!”
Past Campaigns
2024 We're Still Here Announcement
2023 We're Still Here Announcement
2022 We're Still Here Announcement
2021 Were Still Here Announcement
2021 We're Still Here Contest Results
Grand Prize Winner
1st Runner-up
2nd Runner-up
3rd Runner-up
4th Runner-up
See the results of previous campaigns here.