Jenner and vaccination

Question 1

What was smallpox?

Answer 1

In the 18th century smallpox killed more children than any other diseases. Thousands of adults died too and the disease spread quickly and easily from person to person.

Question 2

Who was Edward Jenner?

Answer 2

• Edward Jenner as born in 1749.
• Trained in London as a surgeon and apothecary
• He the worked as a GP when he made his discovery.

Question 3

Describe the discovery of Vaccination and smallpox.

Answer 3

• Since the 1720s doctors had been inoculating against smallpox by infecting them with a mild version of the disease. People could still die and only the rich could afford.
• He noticed that people who got cow pox did not get smallpox
• He infected local people with cowpox and tried to infect them with small pox and they did not get it.
• in 1798, The Royal Society refused to publish his ideas so he paid to print his findings into books.
• By 1800, around 100,000 people worldwide had been vaccinated but the practice took time to become popular in Britain.
• In 1802 The Royal Jennerian society was set up to promote vaccination and by 1804 over 12000 British people had been vaccinated.
• In 1840 the government began paying for vaccinations which were made compulsory in 1852.
• By 1979 smallpox had been wiped out.