Urgent Historical Reminder: First Smallpox Vaccination in 1725

URGENT UPDATE: On this day, August 26, 2025, we reflect on a pivotal moment in medical history—the first smallpox vaccinations administered to children in Dublin, Ireland, in 1725. This groundbreaking event marked the beginning of a fight against a disease that would claim millions of lives over centuries.

Five children in Dublin received their first voluntary smallpox inoculations, a technique that had been practiced in China for centuries but only just arrived in Europe. Smallpox, known for its devastating impact, caused high fever and disfiguring sores, killing as many as one-third of those infected. The disease left many survivors with permanent scars or blindness, making the need for a solution urgent.

The World Health Organization officially declared smallpox eradicated in 1980 after a decade-long, $300 million global vaccination campaign. The last recorded death from the virus occurred in Somalia in 1977, but the journey to eradication began much earlier. In Dublin alone, smallpox was responsible for 20% of all deaths and one-third of child mortality from the 1600s to the 1740s.

The inoculation technique initially faced skepticism and was tested on prisoners in Cork Jail in 1721. However, by the mid-18th century, the method gained traction among the affluent, who inoculated their families and helped to reduce the disease’s grip on society. Notably, as the Great Famine struck Ireland from 1845 to 1849, smallpox returned with increased ferocity, devastating communities already ravaged by hunger.

As the country emerged from the shadow of the Great Hunger, efforts intensified in the 1880s to eradicate smallpox. By the 1910s, deaths had plummeted to just 65 annually, thanks to widespread inoculation efforts that reached nearly 1 million people in a decade.

The last outbreak of smallpox in Ireland occurred in 1903, with 256 cases reported in Dublin. Globally, smallpox continued to wreak havoc into the 1960s, claiming up to 2 million lives each year. The WHO’s global vaccination initiatives ultimately triumphed, freeing the world from this scourge.

As we commemorate this day, it is essential to remember the human impact of smallpox and the widespread fear it instilled in communities. The story of smallpox is a testament to the resilience of medical science and the importance of vaccination in preventing infectious diseases.

Stay informed and share this historical reminder of how far we’ve come in the fight against deadly diseases.