The development of the smallpox vaccine, in 1797, was the beginning of one of the greatest
contributions to global health. Less than 200 years later, the smallpox disease was declared
eradicated as a result of The Smallpox Eradication Programme. Many more vaccines have
been created and entered in an immunisation program, or schedule, in the hopes of further
deadly diseases being declared eradicated as well. Vaccination has been proven to greatly
reduce disease, disability and death.
During the 20th century, it is estimated that smallpox was responsible for 300–500 million
deaths. The first method used to cure this disease was called variolation. This procedure was
most commonly carried out by transferring the material of a pustule from one person’s active
lesion to superficial scratches made in the skin of another. There is evidence that this
procedure dates as far back as the 15th century. There were many ways to perform this
