Smallpox Vaccine

The smallpox vaccine helps protect against smallpox, a serious and often deadly infectious disease caused by the variola virus. It uses a related but less harmful virus called vaccinia to stimulate the immune system. When vaccinated, the body learns to recognize and fight the smallpox virus if exposed later, preventing illness or reducing its severity. The vaccine was widely used before smallpox was eradicated in 1980 and is one of the first vaccines developed, demonstrating the power of immunization to control and eliminate diseases.