The last reported cases of smallpox occurred in 1977 when the disease was eradicated worldwide. After that, the disease was declared eliminated from the planet, and vaccinations ended. It’s been nearly 40 years since anyone in South Africa had to worry about catching smallpox, so you may wonder when this vaccination stopped. It’s important to know when this vaccine stopped because it can help you determine if you should still get it today or if you’re already vaccinated against this disease.
History of Immunization
The smallpox vaccine was first developed by Edward Jenner, a British physician, who found that milkmaids who had previously caught cowpox were immune to smallpox. He tested this by injecting an eight-year-old boy with material from a pustule on the hand of a milkmaid named Sarah Nelmes who had cowpox. The boy did not develop smallpox after being inoculated. In 1798, George Pearson developed and began to distribute vaccines to people in England.
The WHO recommends vaccinations
Smallpox is a deadly, highly contagious disease that has plagued humankind for millennia. I eradicated the disease in 1980 thanks to a global vaccination campaign led by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Is there any risk?
Smallpox is a deadly disease and vaccination has been shown to be one of the best ways to stop its spread. However, smallpox vaccinations were stopped in South Africa after 1985 due to a lack of funding. There are no current risks for those who have not been vaccinated.
What precautions should you take?
In order to prevent smallpox, it is necessary to have a vaccine. The process of vaccination involves injecting the patient with a killed, weakened version of the virus. This stimulates their immune system and prepares them for exposure to the live smallpox virus. After being vaccinated for smallpox, a person will be immune for about ten years. The global eradication of smallpox means that it is no longer necessary to vaccinate against this disease unless you are travelling internationally where there is still a risk.
