The Evolution of Vaccines

Insights into the Past, Present & Future

Vaccination has contributed to saving more lives than any other medical intervention in history. The practice of immunization dates back hundreds of years. The past two decades have seen the application of molecular genetics and its increased insights into immunology, microbiology and genomics applied to vaccinology. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination development has become a global point of focus. And while the development of these vaccinations occurred at a faster pace, they are still held to the same standards as other vaccinations.

To support research on vaccines, we’ve pulled together key content resources, looking into the past, present and future of vaccine research including resources to share with your users.

Research pioneer who changed the world

Edward Jenner, pioneer of smallpox vaccine

Jenner was the pioneer of smallpox vaccine. He discovered the link between cowpox pus and smallpox in humans which helped him to create the smallpox vaccine, the world's first vaccine. Jenner's research is said to have "saved more lives than the work of any other human". In Jenner's time, smallpox killed around 10% of the British population, with the number as high as 20% in towns and cities where infection spread more easily.

Edward Jenner