Historical development of vaccination: safeguarding humanity from various ailments since the 18th century

In the 18th century, smallpox was a terrifying disease that threatened the royal family of Russia. Despite this, it wasn't until 1919 that mandatory anti-smallpox vaccination was introduced in the country. This historical event was preceded by a significant moment in 1768, when Baron Thomas Dimsdale, an English physician and smallpox vaccinator, was invited by Empress Catherine the Second to vaccinate her and her son Paul in Moscow. The first smallpox vaccination house was opened in the city, later transformed into the Catherine Hospital.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, smallpox continued to claim lives, with an estimated 300 million people lost worldwide in the 20th century. The search for a solution led to the creation of the polio vaccine by American physician Jonas Salk in 1952, followed by Albert Sabin's improved oral version nine years later. However, the journey towards eradicating polio has been long and challenging. In 1955, a tragic incident occurred when the American company Cutter Laboratories released over 100,000 doses of a polio vaccine containing live polio virus, causing ten deaths and 160 cases of permanent paralysis.

The fight against infectious diseases has been a global effort. In 1988, the World Health Organization launched a global polio eradication program. Since then, the number of countries with malaria infection has decreased from 106 to 86, and the number of malaria cases has fallen by 36%, with a corresponding drop in mortality rate by 60%. Yet, approximately half of the world's population remains at risk of malaria infection, with around 400,000 deaths annually, mostly in Africa. A vaccine that provides immunity against malaria has not yet been developed.

Similarly, measles, an exceptionally contagious virus, has taken a significant toll on human lives. Before the introduction of the vaccine, measles claimed an average of 2.6 million lives per year. Despite a vaccine being available for over five decades, last year alone, measles killed 208,000 people. The rise in measles cases in the US and Europe is due to an increase in "anti-vaxxers", a trend sparked by British doctor Andrew Wakefield. His 1998 scientific paper suggested that the MMR vaccine might pass through the intestinal walls and into the brain, causing autism. However, this claim has been widely discredited.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted national vaccination services worldwide, increasing the risk of large-scale outbreaks of infectious diseases like measles and polio. The development and deployment of measles vaccination in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continue to face challenges, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The DRC is currently battling multiple outbreaks including Ebola, which complicates public health responses, and measles vaccination is still recommended in endemic areas.

In conclusion, the history of vaccinations and infectious diseases is a complex tale of progress, setbacks, and ongoing challenges. While significant strides have been made in the fight against diseases like smallpox and polio, the battle against malaria and measles continues. The importance of vaccinations in maintaining global health and wellbeing cannot be overstated.