Today, Explained The first global vaccination
Jan 15, 2021
Delve into the remarkable journey of Edward Jenner and his cowpox vaccine, a revolutionary step in smallpox prevention. Discover the ethical complexities of using orphan boys as vaccine carriers in early vaccination efforts. Learn how these boys played a vital role in saving countless lives in Spanish colonies. The episode also draws intriguing parallels between historic and modern vaccine distribution challenges, shedding light on the varied success of COVID-19 rollouts across countries.
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First Vaccine
- The first vaccine, for smallpox, was developed in the late 1700s after observing cowpox immunity.
- It involved transferring fluid from a cowpox sore to another person, a less-than-hygienic but effective method.
Vaccine Transportation Challenges
- Early vaccine distribution involved applying cowpox fluid to textiles and transferring it between towns.
- Transporting it across oceans proved challenging, as the virus often lost potency during long journeys.
Orphan 'Vaccine Mules'
- To solve the transatlantic transfer problem, Spain used 22 orphan boys as 'vaccine mules'.
- Two boys were initially infected, then sequentially infected others during the voyage to keep the virus alive.