The story of the first vaccine

The first vaccine began with a clue in a dairy.

Smallpox terrified families, leaving survivors scarred and sometimes taking their sight.

People used smallpox material for protection, but that could spread disease.

Doctor Edward Jenner investigated something milkmaids had noticed for years.

After catching cowpox from cows, they seemed protected against smallpox.

In 1796, Jenner collected material from a milkmaid's cowpox blister.

He introduced it into the arm of eight-year-old James Phipps.

James felt briefly unwell, then recovered from the cowpox infection.

Weeks later, Jenner exposed him to smallpox material to test protection.

James did not develop smallpox, supporting Jenner's idea that cowpox protected.

That dangerous experiment on a child would be unacceptable by today's standards.

Jenner published his findings, and vaccination spread across the world.

After generations of improved vaccines and worldwide effort, smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980.

The clue from a dairy helped humanity erase a disease.