An Introduction to the Biology and History of Vaccinations
Model 1: Smallpox
Read the Smallpox Graphic Novel and answer the following questions:
1. What was the job of a milkmaid? Milkmaids frequently “caught” what disease? Was it
deadly?
To milk the cows. They caught cow pox, which was similar to small pox but not as deadly.
2. How was milk-maid’s disease similar to smallpox? How was it different?
Cow pox also had skin lesions, similar to small pox. Cow pox didn’t end with death.
3. What was Edward Jenner’s hypothesis regarding the relationship between cowpox and
smallpox?
Cow pox and small pox were related, and if you caught the weaker version first, your body would
be able to fight off the deadlier smallpox.
4. How did Jenner test this hypothesis?
He made cuts in the arm of a boy, who then got sick with cow pox. Jenner then infected the boy
with small pox to see if he would survive the infection.
5. What is the function of a lancet? How are these used today?
A device used to cut tissue. Used for cutting tissues, excising tissue.
6. What is the relationship between Edward Jenner and James Phipps?
James Phipps was the son of Edward Jenner’s gardener.
7. What were the potential outcomes of Jenner intentionally infecting a child with cowpox?
With smallpox?
Mild illness without death. Severe illness with likelihood of death.
8. Based on the information provided in the model questions above, write a grammatically
correct sentence that defines vaccination.
Vaccination is a method of fighting infection in which a person is exposed to a harmful pathogen,
and the person’s body develops immunity to the pathogen from the initial exposure.
Model 2: Polio
Read the Polio Graphic Novel and answer the following questions:
9. Poliomyelitis is a disease of which organ systems?
The central nervous system.
10. What was the function of formaldehyde in Salk’s vaccine?
It was used to kill the virus in the lab.
11. How was Salk’s vaccine administered? In what other ways can vaccines be administered?
Through injection. Through inhalation or ingestion.
12. Why does a virus need to be killed or weakened prior to its use in vaccines?
So the virus does not cause the disease, but instead promotes the production of antibodies
without causing damage to the body.
13. What is the function of an iron lung? How does the use of an iron lung connect to the CNS?
To assist the breathing of a person that has paralysis or loss of muscle function in the
diaphragm. The CNS connects to the diaphragm, and if polio caused the loss of control of the
diaphragm, the person would not be able to breathe.
14. Why didn’t Salk patent his vaccine? Would you have done the same? Why or why not? What
is a patent?
He wanted everybody to have access to the vaccine, and didn’t feel it was appropriate to make
money from the vaccine. A patent registers an invention to the creator and prevents other
people from making copies of the invention without permission of the creator.
15. If a group of scientists developed a new vaccine for a major communicable disease (such as
HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis), would they patent their discovery? Why or why not?
Answers will vary. Students may say yes, the scientists would patent their discovery to prevent
other scientists from copying their results, so they scientists would gain any money earned from
selling the vaccine. Some may say not, the scientists wouldn’t patent the discovery so that more
people could benefit from the vaccine.
16. Polio is prevalent in the developing world. With your group, develop three plausible reasons
why this situation exists, even in the presence of an effective vaccine.
1. Not enough money to pay for the vaccines.
2. Too many people in the country need the vaccine and not enough get the vaccine.
3. Vaccines may go against certain religious groups’ beliefs.
Model 3: MMR
Read the MMR Graphic Novel and answer the following questions:
17. MMR is an abbreviation of what three diseases?
Measles, mumps, rubella.
18. For how many decades was the MMR vaccination administered routinely and without
controversy?
For almost 4 decades (1960’s – 1998).
19. What did Andrew Wakefield claim in his 1998 Lancet paper?
He claimed that the MMR vaccine was linked to autism.
20. How did the general public respond to the implications of Wakefield’s paper?
People were concerned about the safety of vaccines, and protested vaccinations. Some tried to
sue the makers of the vaccine. Parents stopped vaccinating their children.
21. The modern Hippocratic Oath, taken by practicing doctors, includes (in part): “I will prevent
disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.” Explain how the actions of
Edward Jenner (Model 1) and Maurice Hillman (Model 3) are justifiable in light of this oath.
They both utilized other humans for testing their theories of how vaccines could would to
prevent disease. By utilizing other humans, they were able to show how disease could be
prevented, which helped reduce the number of people affected by disease.
22. The modern Hippocratic Oath also includes (in part): “never do harm to anyone.” Explain
why some people consider vaccinations a violation of the Hippocratic Oath. Are they correct?
The vaccinations introduce a pathogen into a human, which violates the Hippocratic Oath due to
the fact the person may become sick from the pathogen. Answers will vary; some may say yes
they are correct due to the risk of people getting sick and/or dying from the pathogen in the
vaccine. Some may say no they are incorrect because more people are benefitted from a vaccine
than are harmed, and a minor illness is better than dying from a preventable disease.
23. If you have children, would you choose to have them vaccinated? Why or why not?
Answers will vary.
Challenge Questions
24. What is the significance of the name of the premier British medical journal The Lancet?
A lancet was used in the first administration of a vaccine, when Edward Jenner tested his theory
of preventing polio. The medical journal The Lancet provides medical information, including the
incorrect theory of how vaccines were linked to autism.
25. The goal of vaccination is to prevent disease, but involves the introduction of foreign
substances into the body. Explain why this is effective, but perhaps counterintuitive.
The vaccine introduces foreign substances in small enough doses that the person’s immune
system can develop antibodies against the pathogen, usually preventing the person from getting
the more dangerous full-strength pathogen. It may be counterintuitive because the person may
still get sick from the pathogen, and the body is still affected by the pathogen even in a
weakened dose.
26. It is a fact that some children who have autism have been vaccinated. Why does this fact not
necessarily support the incorrect claim “vaccinations cause autism?” What is the difference
between correlation and causation?
Children who have autism likely had the disorder prior to getting vaccinated, which does not
support the claim that vaccinations were the cause of autism. However, most children start
getting vaccinated soon after birth, and autism may not be detected until later, so the claim
against vaccines could not be completely disproven with this fact. A correlation is a similarity or
a link between two unrelated events, while causation is when one event causes another event.
27. The “epidemic” of new whooping cough cases each year has been linked to decreased levels
of childhood vaccination. Would you recommend that parents vaccinate their children
against whooping cough? Why or why not?
Answers will vary. Some students may say yes, because the child will likely not get the disease
and get sick if they have been vaccinated. Some students may say no, because whooping cough
can be treated with antibiotics.