July 21, 1796

Edward Jenner scratched a boy with cowpox to fight smallpox.

The vaccine worked.

It was the start of something massive: immunology.

New blog post with an 1834 letter from John Hankins to his brother-in-law Chauncey Thomas. John was going to be delayed returning from Philadelphia - he'd been exposed to smallpox and didn't want to bring it home.

https://hankinsnewyork.blogspot.com/2025/06/1834-letter-from-john-hankins-to.html

1806 in Canada
More at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1806_in_Canada#Historical_documents

"This great cause of humanity" - British physician John Ring details the extent of cowpox #vaccination against #smallpox in Lower Canada

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5671304/?page=1
pgs. 311-22

Imagine, if you will, that we were close to eradicating #Polio and/or #Smallpox and #RFK was our HHS Secretary...they would come roaring back, just as #Measles are today.

#Health & #Medicine -
Let’s learn about #vaccines

These #medicaltreatments have saved millions of lives from #deadlydiseases such as #measles, #smallpox and #polio

https://www.snexplores.org/article/lets-learn-about-vaccines

Probably worth remembering in the current febrile state of international politics that the USA and Russia are the only two countries that currently have viable smallpox (Variola) virus in storage.

The single most visible successful vaccination programme the world has ever seen ended with the two former superpowers of the USA and the Soviet Union holding on to their stored samples "for research".

Now, lunatics are in charge of both.

This is amazing! #NeilHalloran, possibly my most favorite data storyteller on YouTube, has created another video about the eradication of #smallpox.

https://youtu.be/ybVZ7vluYhQ

P.S. If you’re not familiar with his work, watch his World War II video.

Aren't Internet rabbit holes a wonderful thing?

I'm reading a book by @KenLussey - 'Stockholm Run' which involves an outbreak of Smallpox in Glasgow in 1943 (amongst other fascinating historical insights).

This eventually led on to a discussion of why my wife and I were told (in no uncertain terms) to be vaccinated against Smallpox in 1973/4.
The answer relates to the last confirmed death of someone from the disease - a Medical Photographer named Janet Parker.
Her death led to dramatic changes to the way dangerous pathogens are managed in the UK.

Sacha and I were working in Pathology Laboratories at the time and were considered to be high risk of contracting Smallpox (which at 50 years distance seems truly bizarre)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_smallpox_outbreak_in_the_United_Kingdom

#smallpox
#vaccines
#vaccination
#glasgow
#pathology

1804 in Canada
More at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1804_in_Canada#Historical_documents

After failures, a #Gaspé justice of the peace experiments on children to show neighbours that cowpox inoculation protects against #smallpox; he treats newborns as well

https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/4268669
pgs. 5–6 (Note: first page of letter is difficult to read)
disponible en français

I'm the polar opposite of anti-vaxx. I'm a #VaxxtotheMax person.

I started nursing in the mid-70's & we were vaxxed for everything known to mankind. Felt a bit crook after the #smallpox but otherwise, not a problem.

Have had 7 #COVID19 vaxx without an issue (haven't had COVID as far as I know).

One #Shingles vaccine & 6 months to the day later, still suffering the side effects.

If you're considering #Shingrix please talk to your doc about side effects.

Voltaire on smallpox inoculation from Lettres Philosophiques, translated from French to English.

In short, Lady Wortley Montague brought the idea of #smallpox inoculation to England after witnessing the Ottomans performing this procedure. The English tested this inoculation on prisoners before gaining royal approval. The Queen’s support led to its widespread adoption, which #Voltaire observed the practice preventing deaths and disfigurement. France resisted due to religious and medical opposition, though the Chinese had used a similar technique for centuries.

https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1778voltaire-lettres.asp#Letter%20XI

https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1778voltaire-lettres.asp#Letter%20XI

@ukrdef

This is what the U.S. voted for. To withdraw.

From #NATO , which has kep the peace for 80 years.

From #WTO , which has allowed trade to thrive, develpment in poor countries, and cheap stuff in Walmart.

From #WHO, which conquered #polio and #smallpox.

The result will be ... 1/2

Are you curious where the word #vaccine comes from? Do you know how we managed to eradicate #smallpox, a disease that was killing 30% of infected people? This is a video I co-created with TedEd that tells this story.

https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-we-conquered-the-deadly-smallpox-virus-simona-zompi

1803 in Canada
More at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1803_in_Canada#Historical_documents

With #smallpox spreading through Quebec City, the Quebec Gazette recommends "speedy" inoculation with cowpox matter offered by a city #physician

https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/4268561
pgs. 3–4
disponible en français

Figura djenné-djeno, en el delta del Níger, Mali, del 1220-1460 d.C. de dos personas con pústulas umbilicadas de la viruela. Dado que se han encontrado momias con la misma enfermedad en Egipto, es posible que llegara a través de las rutas de comercio transaharianas. Colección Daniel Shapiro Bernard de Grunne #salud #health #viruela #smallpox

I'm gonna need ppl to understand that when they hear #endemic ... that is not a GOOD thing.
You do not want a pathogen continuously circulating in your area.
#Smallpox used to be endemic and it was BAD.
#Polio was endemic and it was BAD.
#TB was pandemic and in some parts of the world it still is, and that's BAD.
These are things I never thought I'd have to say before #Covid ... and needing to say them now is BAD.