How were vaccines developed in the past?

The historical journey of vaccine development reflects a profound evolution in humanity's quest to safeguard against devastating illnesses. From ancient practices to contemporary breakthroughs, the trajectory of vaccine manufacturing showcases the resilience and progress of medical science.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the most crucial milestones in vaccine development.

History of vaccination – a brief timeline

The history of vaccines dates back to ancient times, with early attempts to get protection from virulent diseases. The actual discovery of vaccines, however, was achieved hundreds of years later, and set in motion a path of success with a huge impact on humanity.

Let’s explore some important milestones in the history of vaccine development before diving deeper in a few selected phases:

Ancient Practices (400 BC – 400 AD)

• India: It was observed that, once being infected, people were less likely to suffer from reinfection.
• China: Smallpox was documented.

Middle Ages (700 – 1400)

• Islamic Golden Age: Scholars like Al-Razi explored inoculation methods.
• Black Death: Experiences with devastating plagues prompted rudimentary attempts at preventive measures, though with limited success.

16th – 17th Century

• Variolation in the Ottoman Empire: Lady Mary Wortley Montagu observed and introduced variolation in England.
• Smallpox inoculation in Europe: Efforts to combat smallpox involved variolation, notably practiced by the English royal family.

18th Century

• Edward Jenner's Smallpox Vaccine (1796)

19th Century

• Rabies vaccine (1885): Louis Pasteur developed the rabies vaccine.
• Bacterial vaccines for several diseases, such as tuberculosis

20th Century

• Polio vaccine (1955)
• Mass vaccination campaigns: Large-scale vaccination efforts were launched globally (e.g. for diphteria, measles and polio).

21st Century

• Advancements in mRNA vaccines
• Global vaccination initiatives

Sources: ^1 2 3 4 

Early attempts in immunization

Early attempts in immunization date back to ancient civilizations, where rudimentary methods sought to confer immunity against diseases. Practices like variolation in China and India involved exposing individuals to small amounts of infectious material to induce a mild form of the disease, aiming to generate immunity.

In the Islamic Golden Age, scholars like Al-Razi explored inoculation techniques. Variolation gained traction in Europe, notably introduced by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. She introduced variolation to England after observing its success in the Ottoman Empire. While risky and sometimes fatal, variolation played a significant role in combating smallpox before the advent of safer vaccination methods.

18th century – discovery of vaccines

Edward Jenner, an English physician, pioneered a revolutionary approach in 1796 by introducing the smallpox vaccine. Jenner observed that milkmaids exposed to cowpox, a mild relative of smallpox, seemed immune to the more severe disease. He formulated the idea of using cowpox to confer immunity against smallpox.

Jenner's experimentation on James Phipps, a young boy, involved inoculating him with cowpox matter and later exposing him to smallpox, demonstrating immunity. This breakthrough marked the advent of modern vaccination, with Jenner's method hailed as a milestone in preventive medicine. It laid the foundation for the several benefits of vaccine production that significantly impact public health worldwide today.

Progress in vaccine development in the 19th and 20th century

The 19th and 20th centuries witnessed remarkable progress in vaccine development, propelled by advances in microbiology and scientific understanding. Louis Pasteur's work in the late 19th century led to the development of the rabies vaccine, solidifying the principles of immunization. This period saw the refinement of bacterial vaccines against diseases like cholera and typhoid, bolstering preventive measures.

The 20th century marked monumental strides with the introduction of the polio vaccine by Jonas Salk in 1955. Large-scale vaccination campaigns emerged, significantly reducing the global burden of diseases like smallpox, measles, and diphtheria.

Technological advancements in virology and immunology fueled the creation of more vaccines, contributing to the near-eradication of certain illnesses and paving the way for comprehensive vaccination programs worldwide.

Vaccine development today – single-use technology at the forefront

In the course of the 20th as well as in the 21st century, novel methods in vaccine manufacturing have reshaped the field of immunization once more. With discoveries like viral vectors and mRNA vaccines, a new understanding of vaccination has arisen.

These new methods, however, are only possible thanks to huge technological progress, such as high-performance freezing and sterile fluid management systems. These innovations are substantial to guarantee safe and effective vaccine products.

Read more: 7 trends in global vaccine development

In order to support vaccine manufacturers in continuing the success story of vaccines, Single Use Support has established a flexible and scalable product line-up, suitable for each stage in vaccine development.

RoSS.FILL, for instance, is an innovative solution for automated fluid management in vaccine manufacturing, ready to perform sterile liquid transfer from the early stages of vaccine discovery all the way down to bulk production, precisely filling vaccines and their respective components into single-use bags in different sizes.

Additionally, Single Use Support has developed platforms for controlled freezing and thawing, its RoSS.pFTU – a high-performance plate freezing platform, that are equally scalable and fast freezing of drug products. The controlled rate freezer mitigates the risk for loss of product viability or other damaging effects caused by insufficient freezing processes. Just like the automated fluid management system, RoSS.pFTU is based on vendor-agnostic single-use technologies, underscoring the many benefits this production approach has for vaccine discovery.