From 1968, this image depicts a young Cameroonian boy in the process of receiving his vaccinations during the African Smallpox Eradication and Measles Control Programs. The public health technician was administering the requisite vaccines using a “Ped-O-Jet®” jet injector applied to the boys right arm.
Smallpox outbreaks have occurred from time to time for thousands of years, but the disease is now eradicated after a successful worldwide vaccination program. The last case of smallpox in the United States was in 1949. The last naturally occurring case in the world was in Somalia in 1977. After the disease was eliminated from the world, routine vaccination against smallpox among the general public was stopped because it was no longer necessary for prevention.
(via collectivehistory)
09 Sep 2012 @ 02:32PM / 
