Edward Jenner: World's First Vaccine

Edward Jenner Edward Jenner, ultimately, developed and introduced the world’s first vaccine—the smallpox vaccine, which allowed for the eradication of the smallpox virus from the entire world. The remarkable Jenner was born on May 17, 1749 in Berkeley, Glouchestershire, England as the eighth child among nine (Allen 47). At the very young age of five, he became an orphan and lived with and was taken care of by an older brother (Jenner 1). Nevertheless, he would grow up to be an incredibly famous surgeon and a well-respected scientist of the various branches of science he would choose to occupy. Jenner naturally acquired a strong interest in natural history and medicine as a young boy, kick-starting his involvement in scientific exploration.
Although it was later when he began working with this theory regarding cowpox inoculation, this sparked the moment when he would succeed with vaccination (Riedel). Thus, when smallpox struck the town, Jenner immersed himself with the theory of cowpox inoculation, or introducing/ deliberately infecting a person with cowpox which would result in immunity against smallpox. And on May 14, 1796, Jenner tested his theory on eight year old James Phipps. Taking pus from a cowpox infected milkmaid named Sarah Nelmes, he “dabbed the liquid” into the cuts he created on Phipps’s arm. Soon after, the boy experienced a fever and symptoms of cowpox such as “inflamed joints and red ulcerations at the site of the vaccination” but would overcome them (Allen 49). To complete the testing of his theory, he inoculated the boy once again, but with fresh smallpox lesion this time around on July 1, 1796. Phipps displayed no symptoms or any sickness indicating that he had smallpox, therefore, Edward concluded that the boy was immune and protected from smallpox, resulting in a successful experiment
It is correctly perceived and understood by people that vaccines introduce a less harmful strain of a particular disease to a human body in order for that body to develop antibodies that fight against the particular disease. Presumably, the human body is then considered immune to that disease (Edward Jenner Biography). This research has and will continue to lead to new, effective, life-saving vaccines and more effective, safer, and overall better versions of those could be created and developed. Most importantly, this research has, basically, eradicated the highly contagious smallpox disease, saving countless lives and giving life to endless opportunities, possibilities, and to the amazing realities of