With the resurgence of the monkeypox virus, smallpox vaccination has once again become an important part of the agenda. In the past, smallpox, which ravaged the world between 1958 and 1977, posed a serious global health threat. In the face of this threat, the World Health Organization (WHO) ensured that smallpox vaccination was widely administered worldwide, and the disease was largely brought under control. However, recent studies on the monkeypox virus (mpox) have shown that people who have been vaccinated against smallpox may still provide some protection against this new threat. This has raised the question of whether smallpox vaccination should be administered again today.
What is smallpox vaccine?
Known for centuries and widely spread, smallpox is considered one of the most lethal diseases in human history. This disease, caused by the variola virus, is transmitted from person to person through the respiratory tract. However, the smallpox vaccine used in the treatment of smallpox has gone down in history as a revolutionary discovery in medicine. This vaccine is an important turning point in human health and is known as the first vaccine containing live viruses.
The vaccine contains Vaccinia virus instead of Variola virus, which causes smallpox. Smallpox vaccine provides protection for at least 10 years. This vaccine not only provides long-term protection against infection, but also provides effective protection when administered within the first 4 days after exposure to smallpox. This early intervention can prevent the disease from developing and prevent serious health problems.
In Turkey, the smallpox vaccine was produced and developed by the Institute of Public Health. However, as in the rest of the world, the production and development of this vaccine has been terminated in our country in accordance with the decisions of the World Health Organization. Today, many countries are trying to increase their smallpox vaccine stocks and are developing various strategies to preserve the effects of this important health tool of the past.
History of smallpox vaccination
The smallpox vaccine is the first vaccine developed against infectious diseases. In 1796, English physician Edward Jenner discovered that the cowpox virus provided effective immunity against the deadly smallpox virus. This discovery was the first step in the history of vaccination and made a significant contribution to the evolution of medical technology.
Smallpox vaccine was transmitted between individuals by arm-to-arm inoculation from 1796 to the 1880s. First-generation smallpox vaccines were produced on live animal skin and were widely distributed from the 1950s to the 1970s, playing a major role in the eradication of smallpox. Second-generation vaccines were produced in chorioallantoic membranes or cell cultures to ensure greater purity and efficacy. Third-generation vaccines are based on attenuated vaccinia strains and were used in limited numbers before the eradication of smallpox. This phase reflects recent innovations and developments in the evolution of smallpox vaccines.
How is smallpox vaccination done?
The smallpox vaccine is considered one of humanity’s most important health advances, and the production process of this vaccine has made a great contribution to strengthening the immune system and preventing diseases. The vaccine is prepared and bottled in a sterile environment. The packaging process is done carefully to eliminate the risk of contamination of the vaccine. In the final stage, the vaccines are distributed to health institutions and prepared for administration. The application is usually done by direct injection into the skin.
When was the last smallpox vaccine administered in Turkey?
As a result of large-scale vaccination campaigns supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), smallpox was completely eradicated worldwide in the early 1980s. The last known case of smallpox occurred in Somalia in 1977. With this great success, the practice of smallpox vaccination, which had been mandatory in all countries since the 1980s, was ended.
Is smallpox vaccination still available?
In some countries, military personnel continue to be vaccinated. After the last known case of smallpox was seen in Somalia in 1977, many countries, including Turkey, stopped their previously mandatory smallpox vaccination programs. For this reason, smallpox vaccination was last administered in Turkey in the early 1980s. Since then, vaccination has only been carried out in some countries for certain risk groups and special situations such as military personnel. Therefore, when it comes to the number of people last vaccinated against smallpox, those born in the early 1980s come to mind.