[The history of smallpox vaccination in the Imperial Moscow foster house]

Probl Sotsialnoi Gig Zdravookhranenniiai Istor Med. 2011 Jul-Aug:(4):58-61.
[Article in Russian]

Abstract

The article deals with the history of vaccination against natural smallpox which is directly connected to the Imperial Moscow foster house which became one of smallpox vaccination centers in Russia of XIX century. In 1801, when variolations were substituted by more safe cowpox vaccinations, in Russia the first vaccination using the method of Jenner was made exactly in in the Imperial Moscow foster house. From 1805, the smallpox vaccination received the status of force of law, the Imperial Moscow foster house began to produce and to distribute the smallpox vaccine all over the country and apply the smallpox vaccination not only to its foster children but to all turned to and, besides that, to train the smallpox vaccination. In 1857, the Imperial Moscow foster house became the first establishment in Russia where the revaccination was applied. In 1980, the WHO proclaimed that the implementation of the global program of smallpox irradiation resulted in the natural smallpox elimination on Earth. The smallpox became the first communicable disease defeated due to mass vaccination. One third of Earth population was vaccinated by the Soviet vaccine, which originated mainly because of the activities of physicians of the Imperial Moscow foster house.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • History, 19th Century
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Moscow
  • Orphanages / history*
  • Russia (Pre-1917)
  • Smallpox / history*
  • Smallpox / prevention & control
  • Vaccination / history*