Question

In your opinion, under what present-day circumstances could Edward Jenner conduct his experiments with smallpox vaccinations? Do you think that any of his procedures would be prohibited in a modern research study?

Reading Excerpt: Friis, Robert H. Epidemiology 101 (Essential Public Health) (p. 14). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition.

In 1798, Jenner’s findings regarding his development of a vaccine that provided immunity to smallpox were published. Jenner had observed that dairymaids who had been infected with cowpox (transmitted by cattle) were immune to smallpox. The cowpox virus, known as the vaccinia virus, produces a milder infection in humans than does the smallpox virus. Jenner created a vaccine by using material from the arm of a dairymaid, Sarah Nelmes, who had an active case of cowpox. In 1796, the vaccine was injected into the arm of an 8-year-old boy, James Fipps, who was later exposed to smallpox and did not develop the disease. Concluding that the procedure was effective, Jenner vaccinated other children including his own son. Figure 1-8 displays an 1802 cartoon by British satirist James Gillray. The cartoon implied that people who were vaccinated would become part cow.

Answer 1

In the present day situation, there are many laws and restriction when it comes to conducting experiments with vaccinations. Under present day circumstance, Edward Jenner could conduct the experiments with small pox vaccinations only when there is a contagious spread of virus or infection becoming lethal to human life. For example in case of Ebola virus spread, there was a alert situation which led to conducting large scale experiments on creating vaccinations that was able to reduce Ebola infections. Mass vaccination campaigns or experiments in present day scenario require legal permission when there is a potential threat of life to humans from it. When a country or place is emergency declared, it would give one the power to conduct experiments relentlessly to find a formulation that eliminates and reduces the impact of the infection.

His procedure could be not accepted in modern medical technology as it is based on assumption and there might be threat to life. There is extreme research and proper clinical trial required in present day situation for one to develop a vaccination to eliminate threat in present day. He discovered the small pox vaccination based on observation that it did not impact dairymaids who are infected by cowpox virus. This will not be allowed purely based on observation as it might be threat to life and may cause adverse affect