Topic 5.2
How did variolation pave the way for modern vaccinations?
Variolation, the earliest method of immunising against smallpox, involved introducing material from smallpox sores into a healthy person to stimulate immunity. This practice, originating in China around 1000 AD, was later adopted and modified in other parts of the world. While variolation significantly reduced smallpox fatalities, it had risks that led to fatalities and drove the search for safer methods.
Variolation (Innoculation)
Innoculation was first used to immunise an individual against smallpox (Variola). Scabs or fluid from a sick person were rubbed into a cut in the skin of a healthy person. The patient would develop pustules just like smallpox naturally occurs. Usually, the patient only became mildly sick. After about two to four weeks, their symptoms would disappear. Someone infected in this way would gain immunity from smallpox in the future.
Smallpox Eradicated from the World
Interest in smallpox started as long ago as 1000 AD when the Chinese first tried to prevent the spread of the disease. They would collect scabs and fluid from an infected person and then dry them out. They would then scratch a healthy person’s arm and put in some dried cells. Variolation was sometimes fatal: two to three percent died of smallpox. This was much better than the 20-30% who died after contracting smallpox naturally. Unfortunately, those who were variolated could still have enough active disease to infect others (not the best way to defend against disease)
In 1545, there was an epidemic in India – 8000 children died
In 1721, Lady Mary Montagu used variolation on her 2-year-old daughter, but not everyone thought it was a good idea.
In 1770, real progress was made in the control of Smallpox. Edward Jenner (1749-1823), an English doctor, heard from a milkmaid that she believed she was safe from smallpox because she had already caught cowpox from a cow. Cowpox is a rare illness in cattle and is usually mild. It can be spread from a cow to humans via sores on the cow being milked. During an infection, dairy workers may have pustules on their hands – sufferers can spread the infection to other body parts. We know now that the cowpox virus belongs to the orthopoxvirus family. Orthopoxviruses also include the monkeypox virus and the variola virus, which causes smallpox
It wasn’t until 1796 that Jenner tested his cowpox vaccination on an 8 year old boy (James Phipps) with great success. This test led to the vaccine that we have today.
In 1855, laws were passed to mandate vaccination.
In 1980, Frank Fenner presented at the World Health Assembly that smallpox was eradicated.
Group Activity
Form Your Team:
- Get into pairs and select one of the historical topics below (if in a big group, try to vary these).
Create Your Story:
- As a team, you will create a mini-presentation to teach others about your topic.
- Use two slides:
- Slide 1 (The Basics): Summarise the key facts about your topic using one of the methods in the flipcards below. Each team member can contribute ideas.
- Slide 2 (The Visuals): Turn your topic into a creative visual format, such as a poster, cartoon strip, timeline, or infographic.
Share and Display:
- Once finished, you’ll share your work. Together, assemble the slides into a timeline of vaccination history and display them on the wall.
Topic 1 - Variolation (900–1000)
- What was variolation, and who used it?
- Was it effective? What were the risks?
Topic 2 - Lady Montagu (1700s)
- How did she help spread variolation?
- How was her method different from earlier ones?
Topic 3 - Edward Jenner (1796)
- How did Jenner discover the smallpox vaccine?
- What impact did it have?
Topic 4 - Variolation vs. Vaccination (1840)
- Why did England ban variolation in favour of vaccination?
- What’s the difference between the two?
Topic 5 - Louis Pasteur (1880–1881)
- How did Pasteur demonstrate his anthrax vaccine?
- How did he convince others it worked?
The Detectives
Hunt for the key details by removing extra information and summarising them in your own words.
Highlight your “case’s” main idea in one sentence.
The Artist
Create a diagram, chart, or simple drawing to explain the main points.
Focus on showing how events or ideas are connected.
The Storyteller
Skim the information and rewrite it as a short story or news headline.
Imagine you’re explaining it to a younger student.