History Of Vaccines

In rural Zimbabwe, community health workers are cycling through heat, dust, and elephant territory to deliver HPV vaccines to girls who live far from any clinic. Since the program launched two years ago, more than 22,000 girls in Mashonaland West have been vaccinated against HPV, which can prevent over 90% of cervical cancer cases. These dedicated "vaccine cyclists" are a lifeline for communities underserved by doctors and nurses.

In rural Zimbabwe, ‘vaccine cyclists’ brave heat, dust and elephants to get girls protected from cancer Amid shortages of doctors and nurses, village health workers are the keystone of care in rural Zimbabwe. To get further, faster, they’re now on bikes.

Did you know researchers are developing vaccine patches, nasal sprays, edible plants, and even electrically enhanced injections as alternatives to traditional shots? A new article from Gavi breaks down six promising technologies that could make vaccines easier to deliver, less invasive, and more accessible globally. The implications for outbreak response and vaccine equity are significant.

No more needles? Six technologies that could transform how we get vaccinated From vaccine patches to sprays, research is accelerating on a number of new ways of delivering protection against the world’s deadliest diseases.

For the first time in over three years, preventive cholera vaccination is back. Global supply of the oral cholera vaccine has doubled since 2022, and Mozambique has just launched the first preventive campaign, with Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of the Congo next. This is a major step toward preventing outbreaks rather than just reacting to them. Read more:

Preventive cholera vaccination resumes as global supply reaches critical milestone First preventive campaign in over three years launches in Mozambique, with others planned in Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Big news for South Africa’s livestock sector. The first batch of a record-breaking 3.5 million Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine doses has arrived. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen is calling on provinces to vaccinate as quickly as possible to protect ~14 million cattle and safeguard food security for all South Africans. Livestock owners, farmers, and vets all have a role to play.

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Call to vaccinate as 3.5 million FMD vaccine doses arrive With the arrival of the first batch of a 3.5 million-dose consignment of Biogénesis Bagó Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has called on all provincial departments to prioritise vaccinating as many animals as possible over the coming weeks.

Former Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona makes a compelling case: the office of the Surgeon General should reflect the same merit-based tradition that defines every other uniformed service like the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

In a recent op-ed in The Hill, Dr. Carmona argues that appointing leaders from outside the career ranks of the Public Health Service, rather than from within, risks undermining morale, eroding public trust, and introducing risk into a system that must be ready for pandemics, natural disasters, and bioterrorism.

When the next crisis comes, the public deserves leaders prepared through a lifetime of service, not just by appointment.

Let’s restore meritocracy to the office of the surgeon general It has become increasingly common to appoint leaders from outside the career ranks of the Public Health Service.

The WHO has declared the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda a global health emergency. Suspected deaths have reached 220, and WHO Director-General Tedros says the epidemic is outpacing response efforts. There are no approved vaccines for this Bundibugyo strain. Stay informed.

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WHO chief says fast-moving Ebola epidemic is outpacing response efforts The head of the World Health Organization said on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda was outpacing response efforts, giving the latest number of suspected deaths as 220.

Did you know the HPV vaccine can cut cervical cancer risk by up to 80%? A major 2026 review just looked at 274 studies — and the results are clear: the HPV vaccine works, and it's safe.

Key takeaways:
📌 Up to 80% lower cervical cancer risk when vaccinated at age 16 or younger
📌 Strong protection against the precancerous cell changes that lead to cancer
📌 A 90% reduction in the HPV strains most responsible for cancer
📌 No serious safety concerns found — no link to Guillain-Barré, chronic fatigue, infertility, or other conditions that have been raised in the past

The best time to vaccinate? Before HPV exposure — which is why vaccination in early adolescence offers the strongest protection.

This is a cancer we can prevent. Share this with a parent, a teacher, or anyone who has questions about HPV vaccines. 💙

📄 Source: CIDRAP/University of Minnesota, 2026 HPV Vaccine Evidence Review (Link in the comments.)

On May 17, 1749, Edward Jenner was born. Nearly half a century later, his work helped turn folk observations about cowpox and smallpox into a repeatable method—shaping what we now recognize as vaccination. Birthdays like this are a nice reason to revisit how big public health changes often start with someone paying attention to everyday patterns.
https://historyofvaccines.org/history/edward-jenner-frs-frcpe/overview/

On May 15, 1689, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was born, decades before “vaccines” existed. After seeing smallpox inoculation (variolation) abroad, she helped introduce the idea to Britain and pushed it into public conversation. It’s a reminder that vaccine history isn’t only lab breakthroughs. It is also about people noticing patterns, taking risks, and persuading communities to try something new.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/history/people/lady-mary-wortley-montagu