A historic month for vaccines: Smallpox and COVID-19
Edna Mohamed
Europe;United Kingdom

Translating...

Content is automatically generated by Microsoft Azure Translator Text API. CGTN is not responsible for any of the translations.

Dr Edward Jenner, the scientist who engineered the smallpox vaccine. /VSG

Dr Edward Jenner, the scientist who engineered the smallpox vaccine. /VSG

 

As the COVID-19 vaccine begins distribution in the UK, it shares an anniversary with another vaccine that cured a disease that rocked the world – smallpox.  

Smallpox, a highly infectious disease, was certified as eradicated in December 1979 due to mass-vaccination efforts

While many people recovered from smallpox, around three in 10 people died – a much higher death rate than the present-day COVID-19. 

In 1967, the World Health Organization initiated a global distribution campaign to eradicate the virus. 

 

 

The program was rolled out across the globe and by 1971, smallpox was eradicated from South America, followed by Asia in 1975 and Africa in 1977. A team of scientists reported on December 9, 1979 that smallpox had been eradicated and the World Health Assembly, the governing body of the WHO, officially declared it gone the following year.

The UK health service is now administering a vaccine for COVID-19 after ordering 80 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTec shot and other countries have also begun to vaccinate.

It's far too early to say an end is in sight for COVID-19, but the smallpox story shows that some deadly diseases, at least, can be comprehensively beaten.

MORE FROM CGTN
Could Zelenskyy and Putin meet within 30 days?
{"type":2,"value":"CGTN","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

Europe

15:45, 25-Jul-2025

{"type":2,"value":"Michael Marillier in London ","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

Europe

15:38, 25-Jul-2025

{"type":2,"value":"CGTN","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

Europe

11:14, 25-Jul-2025

{"type":2,"value":"Evangelo Sipsas in Athens","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

Europe

16:31, 24-Jul-2025

TOP NEWS
Xi calls on China, EU to provide more stability, certainty for world
{"type":2,"value":"CGTN","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

Politics

15:34, 25-Jul-2025

Chinese envoy: U.S. should stop shifting blame over Ukraine conflict
{"type":2,"value":"CGTN","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

World

00:36, 26-Jul-2025