It is safe to say that vaccines are a major discussion in our world today. With doctors, scientists, and politicians promising a COVID-19 vaccination soon, conversations about the ethics of vaccinations have been on the rise. Is the vaccination safe? When can I get vaccinated? Who should be the first to receive the vaccine? Will there be a mandate forcing people to be vaccinated? Only time will tell. The good news is that healthcare workers will likely have the first access to this vaccine, and rightfully so. Doctors, nurses, and other first responders have been on the frontlines fighting the virus and searching for the cure.

Even though we may have some unanswered questions in regards to this vaccine, I can tell you a story about the first vaccine for the time being. I have always been interested in medicine, and the story of the discovery of vaccines has always been a favorite of mine. Basically, it began as a wreckless medical experiment that resulted in amazing success. It furthered the medical field and impacted mankind as we know it. Today, vaccines are imperative to our health and survival. It is crazy to think about what we would do without them. It may be morbid to say, but a lot of us would not be here right now without the invention of vaccines. 

To start off, let’s go over the concept of vaccination in simple terms. What even is a vaccination? A vaccine works by “training” and preparing the immune system to recognize and combat pathogens, either viruses or bacteria. Depending on the pathogen, your immune system can even remember the invader for the future because our bodies already know how to make the needed antibody. However, for example, with the flu, we must get vaccinated annually because the influenza virus mutates rapidly. It all depends on the virus or bacteria. The vaccination usually shows the body a weakened version of the pathogen, preparing it for if you come in contact with the virus or bacteria. If the vaccination is successful, your immune system will be able to fight off the invader, and you won’t get ill. 

Now, I will introduce you to the father of immunology, Edward Jenner. During Jenner’s career, smallpox was very common and contagious. In fact, smallpox is one of the deadliest diseases to ever exist. It is thought to have killed countless people over many centuries, with an estimated 200 million deaths in the 20th century alone. This was obviously a huge problem that physicians were desperate to solve for the sake of human existence and prosperity. 

In 1796, Jenner observed that milkmaids that caught cowpox from milking cows did not catch smallpox when exposed to it. Cowpox was drastically less severe, only resulting in the appearance of pus pockets on the afflicted person’s hand and a mild fever. 

So, Edward Jenner has made this amazing discovery! It seems like those who get infected with the far less severe cowpox are immune to deadly smallpox that has plagued human existence. He then wanted to put this to the test and see for himself in his own controlled experiment. What did he do? He infected his gardener’s son with cowpox, of course! He took the pus from an afflicted cow and scratched the boy’s arm. He then allowed the pus to make contact with the open scratch (There was clearly no required “informed consent” back then). For the next 9 days, the boy experienced aches and ran a fever, but he recovered. 

  Just when you think this boy was out of the woods, Edward Jenner was still not done with testing his theory. He then purposely infected the boy with smallpox. This was a huge risk, considering this was an incredibly deadly disease. Fortunately for both Jenner and the boy, the boy remained healthy. This proved that cowpox is similar enough to smallpox, and the same antibodies protect against both. 

 This was the official birth of the concept of vaccination. The word vaccination was created by Jenner himself. The word comes from the Latin word vacca, meaning cow. Thanks to Edward’s discovery and the brave boy (who seriously risked his life), smallpox is the only disease that has been completely eradicated!

The story behind the first vaccination and the overall concept of vaccinations is very interesting. Vaccinations have changed the world, and continue to save lives every day. Hopefully, soon we can say that in regards to a COVID-19 vaccine. It is important to get your vaccinations and continue to educate yourself and others on the importance of getting vaccinated. You’re not only helping yourself, but you are helping those you love and your community members. We can thank Edward Jenner and his gardener’s son for benefiting human health immensely.