Standardization of smallpox vaccines and the eradication programme--a WHO perspective.

Smallpox vaccine was born in 1796 and the need for it ended in 1980 with the eradication of smallpox. What was remarkable was that in its 200 years history, when the global smallpox eradication programme really needed the vaccine in 1967, it was found that, on the whole, quality was unsatisfactory and supply was short. Unconventional counter measures were taken by WHO, including an international independent testing system, provision of reference preparations in large quantity etc. They effectively solved the problems meeting the target eradication schedule of 10 years. The lessons learned would be of some value to the future eradication or effective control programme of vaccine preventable diseases.