The first vaccinators and the fight against smallpox in Cuba

Abstract

The first vaccination in Cuba against smallpox took place on January 12th, 1804 in the city of Santiago de Cuba. The extension of immunization all over the country started a month later, with the work of Doctor Tomas Romay and an army of vaccinators. In this paper the author deals with the role of those who, magnanimously, participated in the dissemination of the immunization against smallpox in the national territory. Vaccination was free and many of the vaccinators did not receive wages at all, although other ones received a salary by the governments. On July 13th, 1804, the Central Vaccine Commission was established, with Romay as its executive secretary. With their work, vaccinators significantly reduced the number of deaths by the disease and sent vaccinal preparations to other countries such as Mexico, the United States, Jamaica, Colombia and Venezuela. Those vaccinators who started the fight to eradicate smallpox in Cuba must receive full honors as benefactors in every municipality and province where they fulfilled their missions. Their work is an antecedent of social medicine with a community and solidarity scope.

Keywords

• history of medicine
• vaccination
• smallpox vaccine
• infection