Invisible Defence

Edward Jenner saved millions of lives, not by finding a cure for a disease but by stopping people from catching it: he created the first vaccine. Now, thanks to Jenner, no one catches smallpox, a horrible, deadly disease. Today, vaccines are used to stop the spread of equally awful diseases, saving lives without us even knowing it.

Poverty and disease
Life in the 18th century

Revolutionary ideas
Smallpox and vaccination

Stopping the spread
Mimicking the spread of diseases

Resistance
"This house believes that chickenpox vaccinations should be given to children before they start school."

New diseases
New vaccinations against cancer, cocaine addiction, and...?

The story behind the image
Designs from a virus

Scientists today
Dr Olivier Restif