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Standardization of smallpox vaccines and the eradication programme--a WHO perspective
1Agency for Cooperation in International Health (ACIH), Kumamoto-city, Kumamoto, Japan.
Developments in Biological Standardization
|January 1, 2000
Summary
The smallpox vaccine, developed in 1796, faced quality and supply issues in 1967. The World Health Organization implemented unconventional measures, ensuring vaccine availability and quality for global smallpox eradication.
Area of Science:
- Vaccinology
- Global Health
- Disease Eradication
Background:
- The smallpox vaccine was instrumental in eradicating smallpox, a disease that plagued humanity for centuries.
- The global smallpox eradication program, launched with high hopes, faced a critical juncture in 1967.
Observation:
- Despite the urgent need, the quality of available smallpox vaccines was found to be largely unsatisfactory.
- Furthermore, there were significant shortages in the global supply of the vaccine, jeopardizing eradication efforts.
Findings:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) implemented unconventional strategies to address the crisis.
- These included establishing an international independent testing system and providing large quantities of reference vaccine preparations.
Implications:
- These measures successfully resolved the quality and supply issues, enabling the program to meet its 10-year eradication target.
- The lessons learned from the smallpox vaccine campaign offer valuable insights for future eradication programs of other vaccine-preventable diseases.