What is the smallpox vaccine?
Quick Answer
The smallpox vaccine protects against smallpox, a deadly disease caused by the variola virus. Smallpox became the first human disease eradicated worldwide in 1980.
The Full Story
The smallpox vaccine was the first successful vaccine ever developed, based on the work of Edward Jenner in 1796 using cowpox material. Over time, more refined vaccinia-based vaccines were used in global eradication campaigns. Smallpox was declared eradicated by the World Health Organization in 1980 after one of the greatest public-health achievements in history. The vaccine is no longer given routinely because smallpox no longer spreads naturally, though related vaccines are kept for preparedness. Smallpox eradication remains the classic success story of vaccination.
Key Facts
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