THE HISTORY AND ORIGINS OF VACCINES

Hello again!

Have you guys watched the video from the last post? If so then you guys might’ve guessed what this post is about (even though the title pretty much gave it away LOL). 

Okay alright, I know what everyone is thinking right now, ugh history! But hey, it’s all good. I got everyone covered. It’s not going to be all boring words, pictures and videos will be provided too. 

After much extensive research, I really find that the history of vaccine is fascinating and I really hope that you guys think it is too.

To make it short and simple, I’m going to provide you guys a timeline:

1. 429 BC:

A Greek historian, Thucydides, observed that those who survived the smallpox plague in Athens did no become re-infected with the disease.

Thucydides

2. 900 AD:

Variolation was the first primitive vaccine that was discovered by the Chinese and it is used to prevent smallpox.

Smallpox

3. 1700s:

The use of variolation was then spread to Turkey and after that in England in the early 18th century. At the time, Europe was suffering most of smallpox but with the existence of variolation, the rates of the disease decreased. 

Chinese Variolation

4. 1796:

A British physician by the name of Edward Jenner discovered vaccination. 

Edward Jenner

5. 1803:

With the support of vaccination, Jenner was the funded by the government which he then form the Royal Jennerian Institute in 1803. After that, vaccination became popular throughout Europe and US.

6. 1870s:

Even though vaccination was openly accepted by many, there were still some who found it hard to believe that it actually worked. It also doesn’t help that at this time around, vaccination was made compulsory because the groups that didn’t believe in it thought that it negates their civil liberties.

7. 1880s:

Around this time, a French chemist by the name of Louis Pasteur improved vaccination by developing a rabies vaccine. With the understanding of the science of immunology, other vaccines were created.

Louis Pasteur

8. 1890:

A German scientist by the name Emil von Behrig was the first to be awarded with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or also known as Medicine. 

Emil von Behring

Soon after, a Japanese physician and bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato discovered the antitoxins which he demonstrated by injecting animals with a small amount of tetanus toxins. Resulting to the animals becoming immune to the disease.

Shibasaburo Kitasato

8. 1920s:

At the end of 20s, vaccines were spread across the globe and even though the early vaccines were considered crude, it got the job done. The first vaccination programmes dramatically reduced the number of deaths from disease which established the concept of preventative public health measure.

9. 1955:

In this year, Polio vaccine was introduced and this vaccine had dramatically reduced the number of cases of polio.

10. 1965:

The World Health Organization (WHO) decided to try and eradicate smallpox across the world by using the smallpox vaccine on a global scale.

11. 1980:

By the time smallpox was finally eradicated from the world.

12. 2008:

Professor Harald zur Hausen, a German virologist, discovered that cervical cancer was caused by a virus and developed a vaccine for the disease. The vaccine is currently available around the world.

Harald zur Hausen

13. 2013:

The National Health Service (NHS) vaccination programme introduced the rota virus vaccination for babies and a shingles vaccine for over-70s. At the same time a children's flu vaccine was launched. However, this vaccine is not the normal injection type of vaccine but it is a nasal spray.

14. 2015:

The NHS vaccination programme then introduced the Men B vaccination for babies to prevent babies from meningitis B. This programme is the first national, routine, universal and publicly funded by Men B vaccination programme in the world.

See? That wasn't all too bad right? 

If you still think this is too much of a hassle to read then hey, it's cool. I got you. 

Here's a short video on the history of vaccine:

I hope this post clarified on the history of vaccine and that you understand how far vaccines have come.

Till next time!

Sources:

• Google 
• National Health Service (NHS) UK
• Youtube