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Countdown to Christmas
15 - Vaccination

2.5 Minutes
IAF - 15
  • 125 million people died from Black Death in 1346-1356 worldwide; 15 million during the Cocoliztli epidemic in Mexiko in 1546/47 and 50 million during the Spanish Flu 1918-1920.
     
  • Pandemics of unimaginable proportions were once a normal part of life. Vaccines that help the body develop immunity to epidemics werehumanity's greatest medical advance. Diseases like the plague, cholera or influenza can be effectively prevented. The Covid vaccines have shown the potential of genetic engineering to help us develop new vaccines, perhaps even against cancer.
Innovation: Vaccination

Inventor

The first vaccinations were probably undertaken in China in the 10th century. The first modern scientific attempt was made in 1796 by the Briton Edward Jenner, who discovered vaccination against smallpox by immunizing the body with the help of cowpox. Soon after, more and more diseases were discovered by other researchers.

At least in the Northern hemisphere Christmas season is also the season of cold and bad weather. This encourages the flu virus to seek out its unsuspecting victims. Because something like this can really ruin Christmas, we recommend: Get vaccinated!

IAF - DD
Dr Detmar Doering

Additional Resources

On small pox and Edward Jenner

"The History of Vaccines: Killing Smallpox - Vaccines have been instrumental in our modern view of health and healthcare. But they haven't always been around and there's been more than some misinformation on what they are and how they work. So how did we even discover vaccines in the first place? It started with a disease that had plagued humanity for so long, it seemed like it was just a natural part of living. But thanks to the work of Edward Jenner, soon smallpox would become a disease known only to history. One of two diseases that humanity had managed to completely eradicate and all thanks to vaccines and vaccination."

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