History+of+Vaccines



This page gives a brief summary in the major events throughout history which have lead to the developments of the modern influenza vaccines which we have today. 

Early Chinese Inoculation: 1000 CE
The early Chinese developed methods to create immunisation against small pox. This was achieved by scraping the skin and introducing dried small pox scabs onto the cut, or by blowing crushed small pox scabs into the nose. Inoculation was the first step to understanding how to develop an immunity to a virus. Similar techniques were practiced in India and Turkey around the same time.





Inoculation spreads to Europe: 1717
The lady Mary Wortley Montagu had her child inoculated against small pox in turkey, after seeing the method practiced by the local people. Her child underwent a procedure known as variolation, in which liquid from a small pox lesion was injected under the person's skin. The procedure was successful. Once lady Montagu had returned to England she actively promoted variolation, to much resistance in the scientific community. Despite this, her work made the process of variolation widely accepted.





Edward Jenner's discoveries: 1796
Edward Jenner investigated the hypothesis that protection from smallpox can be obtained through prior infection with cowpox. Jenner noticed that milk maids who had been infected with cow pox, (a virus very closely related to small pox) seemed protected against a small pox infection. After testing this hypothesis he presented his findings in a report titled "//An Inquiry into the Causes and Effects of the Variolae Vaccinae, a disease discovered in some of the western counties of England, particularly Gloucestershire and Known by the Name of Cow Pox".// This was the biggest advance in vaccine history.



First Influenza vaccines: 1940's
The U.S military were responsible for developing the first inactivated influenza vaccines. They were distributed during WW2 and the same method for producing the vaccine remains in use today.

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">New Influenza Vaccines developed: 2003
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Very recently, live, attenuated vaccines have been cleared for use for the public. In 2003 the U.S Food and Drug Administration declared the vaccine //Flumist// safe for usage (U.S Drug and Food Administration, 2011).