In times of pandemics, it is inevitable for dissertations to revolve around epidemics and that cost efficient cure that can save most lives. Much has already been written about vaccines and much more will be published in the future. When tracing the history of vaccines, authors often begin with the Jenner’s revolutionary technique, and follow its evolution up to the present day. But one’s technique or discovery, however ingenious and innovative, does not originate from thin air. Since the dawn of days, the genus Homo had to deal with infectious and non-comunicable diseases, trying to tackle them with the cultural means that were available at any given time. “Producing the first vaccine was therefore a long and fascinating adventure of human ingenuity”. I want then to retrace this path with what archeology, molecular biology, literature and history have to offer, placing Edward Jenner’s work as the culmination of our journey KEY WORDS history of medicine; epidemics; vaccines.
The History of Medicine as an Aid to Understanding the Present and
Predicting the Future
