A Vaccine for Manila
Smallpox is one of the most deadly diseases in history, and most people who got sick with it usually die. A vaccine was finally invented in 1796 by Edward Jenner, and in 1803, the King Charles IV of Spain sent an expedition to Manila with the project of vaccinating as many people as possible in the city. Refrigerators were not yet invented during those days, so the vaccine was carried by children.
In our modern world, antibiotics are important for treating diseases caused by bacteria, but Smallpox is not caused by bacteria; it is caused by viruses. As such, vaccines are very important because they prevent people from getting viruses. What vaccines did you get when you were little?
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