Vaccination: Encyclopedia II - Vaccination - History of vaccinations

Vaccination - History of vaccinations

Vaccination campaigns have spread throughout the globe since Jenner's smallpox vaccine of 1796, sometimes prescribed by law or regulations. Vaccines are now used to fight a wide variety of disease threats besides smallpox. Louis Pasteur further developed the technique during the 19th century, extending its use to protecting against bacterial anthrax and viral rabies. The method Pasteur used entailed treating the infectious agents for those diseases so they lost the ability to cause serious disease. Pasteur adopted the name vaccine as a generic term in honor of Jenner's discovery, which Pasteur's work built upon.

Prior to vaccination with cowpox, the only known protection against smallpox was inoculation or variolation (Variola - the Smallpox viruses) where a small amount of live smallpox virus was administered to the patient; this carried the serious risk that the patient would be killed or seriously ill. The death rate from variolation was reported to be around a tenth of that from natural infection with Variola, and the immunity provided was considered quite reliable. Factors contributing to the efficacy of variolation probably include the choices of Variola Minor strains used, the relatively low number of cells infected in the first phase of multiplication following initial exposure, and the exposure route used, via the skin or nasal lining rather than inhalation of droplets into the lungs.

Anti-vaccinationist Movements and Anti-vaccinationists. Various groups and individuals agitated against vaccination for individual and mass benefit, and this minority activity continues to the current time. Arguments from religious, scientific, emotional and assorted bases tend to persist and be broadcast regardless of their merit. Some but perhpas not a majority of those involved profit by promoting alternatives. See Anti-vaccinationists

Consistency would suggest the activity should have predated Jenner's description of an effective vaccination system, and there is some history relating to opposition to the older and more hazardous procedure of variolation.

In modern times, the first vaccine preventible disease targeted for eradication was smallpox. The World Health Organization coordinated the global effort to eradicate this disease. The last naturally occurring case of smallpox occurred in Somalia in 1977.

In 1988, the governing body of W.H.O. targeted polio for eradication by the year 2000. Although the target was missed, eradication is very close. The next eradication target would most likely be measles, which has declined since the introduction of measles vaccination in 1963.

In 2000, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations, www.vaccinealliance.org, was established to strengthen routine vaccinations and introduce new and under-used vaccines in countries with GDP of under US$1000. GAVI is now entring its second phase of funding, which extends through 2014.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "History of vaccinations", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki