Vaccine
History
Two
significant issues in the development of the smallpox vaccine and
its administration had to be solved in order to make the success
of the Eradication effort in the 1970’s possible. One of
the key technological issues that had to be overcome was the fact
that the liquid smallpox vaccine lost its potency in tropical climates.
A freeze-drying technology developed in 1909 helped to improve
this. However, it wasn’t until Collier further worked with
this process that the vaccine became stable for quite some time
at higher temperatures. (22:V6:7) The bifurcated
needle was another significant development in the current vaccination
procedure. It was invented by Dr. Benjamin A. Rubin of Wyeth Laboratories,
patented in July 1965, and developed in conjunction with Reading
Textile Machine Company. Bifurcation holds exactly 1 mg of water,
slightly more vaccine because of increased viscosity. WHO procured
about 50 million bifurcated needles between 1967 and 1976. (22:V6:14)

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