Vaccination

Introduction

In the 18th century smallpox was a deadly threat. It was an infectious disease that spread easily from one person to another. At the same time cowpox was also a common disease amongst milkmaids. It was a mild disease, passed from cows to people but if you caught cowpox you didn’t catch smallpox.

What is the impact of smallpox?

In London there had been 11 epidemics during the 18^th century. In 1796, 3,548 people died during one epidemic.

Who is Edward Jenner?

A country doctor in Gloucestershire

How did Edward Jenner develop the smallpax vaccine?

Edward Jenner noticed that milkmaids didn’t usually get smallpox, but they catched mild cowpox (a similar disease but with weaker symptoms; like a common cold). He tested his theory and it worked, but he didn’t know the science behind the solution.

What was Edward Jenner’s experiement?

IN 1796, he rubbed cowpox infected pus in James Phipps (a 8 year old boy) scratch. James was infected with cowpox which only lasted a few days. After he got better, Jenner infected the boy with smallpox. However, the boy didn’t get the disease. This proved his theory was correct.

Jenner published his findings in 1798 and named it vaccination from the Latin word for cow ‘Vacca’

What were the reactions to Jenner’s vaccine?

• People believed it wasn’t reliable because Jenner didn’t know the science behind it.

• Jenner didn’t have much credibility since he was a countryside doctor (they weren’t very respected like city doctors) - The royal society refused to published his finding because of it.

• People believed they become animals (having physical features and behaviou changes)

• The church believed vaccines were interferring with God’s plan.

What happened after?

1. Jenner got the approval of the Parliament to start a vaccination clinic which gave Jenner £10,000 in 1802

2. IN 1840, vaccination against smallpox were made free for infants

3. in 1853, vaccination was made compulsory for infants

4. In 1871, people were fined if they didn’t vaccinate their children.