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Viruela
Dr. Edward Jenner discovers that vaccination with the cowpox virus protects a person from smallpox infection and creates the smallpox vaccine. In 1798, he published his discoveries. -
Smallpox vaccine
Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse vaccinates his son and other family members against smallpox. These smallpox vaccines are the first in the US. In 1855 Massachusetts is the first state to require that children be vaccinated against smallpox before going to school to prevent contagion in educational institutions. -
Rabie
Dr. Louis Pasteur injects a series of new rabies vaccines into a child who was bitten by a rabid dog. The boy survives. This is the first vaccine that protects people against rabies. Before the rabies vaccine, almost everyone who became infected died of rabies. -
Influenza
Hay una pandemia de gripe (influenza). La pandemia de la gripe se produce por una cepa nueva de la gripe, la H1N1. En Nueva York, se solicita a las personas que tienen gripe que se aíslen en su casa. En Chicago, cierran los cines y teatros, y no se permiten las multitudes. -
Dr. Edward C. Rosenow
Invents an antiserum for the flu that is made up of a combined vaccine that includes the bacteria that causes pneumonia. Dr. Rosenow provides free antiserum to Rochester residents. -
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Vaccines against the influenza
Researchers study flu viruses and develop flu vaccines. In the beginning, mainly the military can get vaccinated against the flu. -
Whooping cough
In the United States, the whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria, and tetanus vaccine is combined into a single licensed vaccine called diphtheria and tetanus toxoid and whole cell pertussis (or DTP vaccine). During the 20th century, there were approximately 200,000 cases of whooping cough (pertussis) in the United States each year, while in 2020 there were about 5,000 cases. -
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Poliomielitis
Between 1948 and 1955, before a polio vaccine was available, several polio epidemics occurred. During this time, many people avoided crowds and public gatherings, such as fairs, sports games, and swimming pools, due to concerns about getting infected. -
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Zika
1952
The presence of Zika virus in humans is reported for the first time. 2007
The Zika virus causes an outbreak on Yap Island. 2013 - 2014
The Zika virus causes an outbreak in French Polynesia. 2016
The WHO declares the Zika virus to be a public health emergency of international concern. However, the public health emergency ends later, in 2016. Many researchers are actively studying and developing vaccines against the Zika virus. Mayo Clinic researchers are also investigating such vaccines. -
Measles
Doctors John F. Enders and Thomas C. Peebles succeed in isolating the measles virus, called the Edmonston strain, from tissue. It is used to develop many other vaccines. -
Vaccine against the Poliomielitis
The polio vaccine, developed by Dr. Salk and colleagues, is licensed in the US Before the vaccine, the disease was a leading cause of childhood disability. During the 20th century, there were approximately 16,000 cases of poliomyelitis (paralytic polio) in the United States each year, compared to none in 2020. -
Vaccine against the measles
Dr. Enders and colleagues develop the live attenuated Edmonston B measles vaccine. This vaccine and a second vaccine are licensed in 1963. Two other live attenuated measles vaccines are authorized in 1965 and 1968. During the 20th century, there were approximately 500,000 annual cases of measles in the United States, while in 2020 there were 13 cases. -
Mumps
The first mumps vaccine is licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Mumps is a common cause of deafness. However, the mumps vaccine makes deafness less common. During the 20th century, there were approximately 162,000 annual cases of mumps in the United States, while in 2020 there were 621 cases. -
Rubella
The first rubella vaccine is licensed in the US In the 20th century, there were about 47,000 cases of rubella a year in the country, up from six cases in 2020. During the 20th century, there were about 152 annual cases of congenital rubella syndrome in the United States, while in 2020 there were no cases. -
Viruela eradication
Thanks to vaccines, the World Health Organization (WHO) declares the eradication of smallpox worldwide. Smallpox vaccination ends. Before the smallpox vaccine, this disease was considered one of the deadliest infectious diseases. In the 20th century, approximately 300 million people died of smallpox. -
Eradicated polio
Polio is considered eradicated in North and South America. -
Bird flu
Bird flu (bird flu), caused by the H5N1 strain of influenza, infects people. This leads to the development of pandemic influenza response plans in the US and around the world. -
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SARS and MERS
From 2002 to 2003
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), which causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), is discovered in China. From the end of 2002 to the end of 2003, it caused around 8,000 infections from the disease and 700 deaths. 2012
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), is discovered in Saudi Arabia. -
Extra vaccine against the cough
The ACIP recommends that adolescents receive a booster dose of the tetanus, diphtheria (low-load diphtheria component), and acellular pertussis vaccine (the Tdap vaccine). -
Deadly strain of influenza
A new strain of the flu, H1N1, causes a pandemic. During 2009, the flu caused around 61 million infections due to the disease, 274,000 hospitalizations and 12,400 deaths. Later in 2009, a vaccine against the H1N1 strain of influenza is available. -
Vaccines against the flu
Flu shots prevent an estimated 7.5 million flu infections, 3.7 million doctor visits, 105,000 hospitalizations, and 6,300 deaths. -
COVID-19
A new coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is discovered in China. The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The World Health Organization (WHO) declares in 2020 that the outbreak of COVID-19 is a pandemic.