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The history of vaccines

A long-established role in protecting against infectious diseases

Immunisation is a key component of preventative healthcare, saving millions of lives from infectious diseases every year.1 In just over 200 years, vaccines have allowed us to eradicate smallpox and significantly reduce morbidity and mortality caused by many life-threatening diseases worldwide.1,2 As far back as the 15th century – possibly even 200 BCE – people attempted to prevent infectious diseases by intentionally exposing healthy people to smallpox in a practice known as variolation.3

Since then, vaccine development has encompassed a wide range of technologies, from Dr Edward Jenner’s creation of the world’s first successful vaccine against smallpox in 1796 to the revolution in genetic engineering more recently.3,4

Timeline of the introduction of some key vaccines4,5

Illustrated timeline spanning pre-1700 to 2020, showcasing various vaccines and their technologies. Includes milestones like the first smallpox vaccine, the polio vaccine, and modern advancements such as vaccines for COVID-19.

References

  1. World Health Organization. Vaccines and immunization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/vaccines-and-immunization (accessed February 2024).
  2. Facciola A et al. An overview of vaccine adjuvants: Current evidence and future perspectives. Vaccines (Basel) 2022;10:819.
  3. World Health Organization. A brief history of vaccines. https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/history-of-vaccination/a-brief-history-of-vaccination (accessed February 2024).
  4. Plotkin S. History of vaccination. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2014;111:12283–12287.
  5. Matic Z and Santak M. Current view on novel vaccine technologies to combat human infectious diseases. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022;106:25–56.

Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/. Adverse events should also be reported to GlaxoSmithKline on 0800 221 441.

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June 2024 | NP-GB-ABX-WCNT-240008 (V1.0)