Vaccination Events in Massachusetts: 1721 to 2020
History of Important Vaccination Events
in Massachusetts: 1721 to 2020
The history of vaccination in America begins, and continues to be deeply connected, with the pubic health and medical innovations in Massachusetts. This chronology supplements the research done for my book, Germs at Bay: Politics Public health and American Quarantine.
This Chronology covers the introduction of smallpox inoculation in 1721, the discovery of cowpox vaccination in 1796, and the expansion of the vaccine concept to other diseases in the 20th century. The detailed chronology takes the reader all the way to the Covid-19 vaccines of 2020.
June 26, 1721
Boylston Conducts First American Inoculation Program: After much research by Cotton Mather, the first inoculation in American history was completed by Dr. Zabdiel Boylston at Boston.
1722
Boylston Completes the First Inoculation Program: A total of 5,989 persons are infected with smallpox and 844 die from their infections. Dr. Boylston with help from a few physicians implemented an inoculation program for 286 persons of which 6 die from the process. A total of 700 persons were absent during the inoculation program (i.e., They fled to the country).
June 2, 1722
Restriction on Freedom of Movement of the Inoculated: The General Court prohibits those under inoculation at spectacle island to come to Boston during the time the General Court is in session without approval.
March 4, 1730
Town Conducts First Town-wide Sponsored Inoculation: An estimated 4,000 persons are infected with smallpox and 500 die from their infections. The selectmen implement a town-wide inoculation program for about 400 persons of which 12 die from the process.
1752
Town Conducts its Second Town-wide Inoculation: A total of 5,514 persons are infected with smallpox and 514 die from their infections. The Selectmen implement a town-wide inoculation program for 2,109 persons of which 31 die from the process. A total of 174 persons did not get the smallpox. A total of 1,800 persons were absent during the inoculation program. The town had 15,734 residents at the time of the epidemic including those in absentia.
February 8, 1764
Boston Selectmen Establish Inoculation Hospital: At the Governor’s Order and with the consent of the residents of Point Shirley, the Town’s Selectmen Establish an Inoculation Hospital at Point Shirley.
April 1764
Town Conducts Third Town-wide Inoculation: A total of 699 persons are infected with smallpox and 124 die from their infections. The Selectmen implement a town-wide inoculation program for 4,977 persons of which 46 die from the process. A total of 519 persons did not get the smallpox. A total of 1,537 persons were absent during the inoculation program.
June 15, 1765
Public Control of Inoculation: General Court declares inoculation hospitals can’t be established without consent of the towns and that those inoculated can’t leave their homes or hospitals without a certificate of health from a physician. Towns that build inoculation hospitals within ½ mile of another town require consent of the adjoining town. Physicians are required to stay in constant attendance at hospitals lest they spread the disease. The law also requires guards at locations where smallpox is present in a home. The law was sunset on June 15, 1768.
July 4, 1776 (Repealed July 9, 1776)
Inoculation Hospitals Authorized After British Leave Boston: The General Court passes “An Act Impowering the justices of the court of general sessions of the peace in the several counties in this colony to permit one of more inoculating hospitals to be erected in each of the said counties.” This law enabled the justices of the court to open inoculation hospitals in their county to address the existence of smallpox in the American Army. It also prohibited inoculation at any place other than an inoculating hospital on penalty of 50 pounds, or if unable to pay, then by whipping, not to exceed 30 stripes, or by imprisonment not to exceed 6 months.
July 13, 1776 (Repealed December 1, 1792)
The General Court Licenses inoculation Hospital in Boston: For a limited time anyone could be inoculated before July 15, 1776 but not afterwards, provided that they always remain within Boston from the time of their inoculation and until cleansed of the disease.
September 1776
Town Conducts Fourth Town-wide Inoculation: A total of 304 persons are infected with smallpox and 29 die from their infections. The Selectmen implement a town-wide inoculation program for 4,988 persons (including 2,873 townspeople) of which 28 die from the process. A total of 157 persons did not get the smallpox. No one fled the town to avoid inoculation because guards were posted at all town gates.
February 17, 1789
General Court Authorizes Island Keeper & Physician to Open Inoculation Hospital on Rainsford Island: The State legislature authorizes Dr. Joseph Whipple and Samuel Laha to open an inoculation hospital on Rainsford Island for a one year period provided they inoculate the sick and the poor at no charge.
March 5, 1789
Inoculation Hospital Established in Brookline: Dr William Aspinwall receives the approval of the General Court to operate a smallpox inoculation hospital remote from the public highways leading into and out of Boston.
April 1, 1789
Public Notified of Inoculation Hospital on Rainsford Island: With the approval of the town Selectmen, Dr. Joseph Whipple advertises his Inoculation hospital on Rainsford Island with nursing care, transportation and other support provided by Captain Samuel Laha, the Island Keeper.
June 16, 1792
Aspinwall Advertises the Availability of his Inoculation Hospital: Dr. William Aspinwall contends that he has adequate facilities to handle those desiring inoculation.
August 20, 1792
Town Selectmen initiate Fifth General Inoculation: The selectmen vote to allow inoculation to occur from August 20, 1792 to September 15, 1792. Townspeople as well as those from out of town are authorized to get inoculated.
October 8, 1792
Town Completes Fifth Town-wide Inoculation: A total of 232 persons are infected with smallpox and 34 die from their infections. The Selectmen implement a town-wide inoculation program for 9,152 persons of which 165 die from the process. A total of 221 persons did not get the smallpox. A total of 262 persons were absent during the inoculation program. Finally, there were 1,038 persons who got inoculated from the countryside.
October 31, 1792
Selectmen Order those Practicing Inoculation Sent to Rainsford Island: With the smallpox epidemic almost under control, the selectmen declare that after October 22, 1792, anyone inoculating in the town is an enemy to the welfare and security of the town.
March 15, 1793
Inoculation Hospital Authorized: The General Court passed “An Act providing for Hospitals for inoculation, and preventing infection form the smallpox, and for repealing several acts heretofore made for that purpose.” This law required establishing an inoculation hospital at least 100 rods away from any dwelling house inhabited, situated in an adjacent town without obtaining the approval of the adjoining town. The new law also made it clear that one could not inoculate oneself or other person unless it was done at a hospital. The new law made it a requirement to establish a hospital or place of reception for the sick and infected when smallpox breaks out. It also established the provision that any place where a smallpox patient is kept, because removal would endanger their life, is considered a hospital and is subject to all the laws and regulations governing such hospitals.
February 17, 1798
Rainsford Island Used for Inoculation: General Court approves the use of Rainsford Island as an inoculating hospital for one year.
May 14, 1796
Jenner Proves Protective Value of Cowpox: Edward Jenner provided the first scientifically documented concept of immunization using cowpox virus (a bovine virus) for protection against smallpox virus.
March 12, 1799
Waterhouse Proclaims the Value of Cowpox: Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse announces cowpox as the antidote to smallpox.
August 17, 1799
Success of Vaccinations Extolled by the Centinel: Columbian Centinel reports on vaccination activities in Boston and their success.
April 1, 1801
Vaccine Institute Proposed: Waterhouse recommends creation of a vaccine institute to provide free vaccination to the poor modeled on that of the London Vaccine Institution.
April 8, 1801
Jackson Offers Free Vaccinations: Dr. James Jackson declares he is providing free vaccination to those who contact him.
April 24, 1802
Waterhouse Announces Fresh Batch of Cowpox: Dr. Waterhouse advertises his vaccination services in the Columbian Centinel announcing the arrival of fresh cowpox from London.
June 20, 1802
Board of Health Announces a Test of the New Cowpox Vaccine: Isaiah Doane, President of the Board of Health indicates the Board of Health will test the efficacy of the cowpox vaccination on Rainsford Island.
July 21, 1802
Waterhouse Rebuts Transitory Value of Cowpox: Waterhouse weighs in against those who believe cowpox provides only a transitory cure to smallpox.
July 24, 1802
Board of Health Agrees to Validate Cowpox: Columbian Centinel announces cowpox experiment is endorsed by the Boston Board of Health to confirm the validity of its preventive value against smallpox. This represents the first such government sponsored experiment in America.
December 8, 1802
First Government Sponsored Vaccine Experiment: The Boston Board of Health reports on its investigation of eleven of its most distinguished physicians concerning the protective power of vaccination. The study, conducted on Noodles Island (now East Boston) proves the protective power of cowpox on nineteen boys subjected to the smallpox experiment. The boys came from every Ward of Boston and were selected to provide representatives of each neighborhood.
December 24, 1802
Boston Vaccine Institution Opens for Business: The Vaccine Institution opens for business at the Health Office on State Street in Boston. The 12 member physicians offer free vaccination to the qualified poor.
June 25, 1803
Poor Offered Vaccines Through Dispensary: Boston Dispensary announces its services in support of vaccination of Boston’s poor. The dispensary, founded in 1796, serves the needs of the poor.
May 23, 1807
Waterhouse advertises for Kinepox Inoculation: Taking an advertisement in the Columbian Centinel, Waterhouse announces his intention to vaccine every other day in Boston.
December 12, 1807
Waterhouse Claims Seven Year Immunity from Cowpox: Waterhouse claims cowpox is an antidote to smallpox and provides immunity for more than seven years.
December 16, 1807
Waterhouse Castigated by His Enemies: John Howard blasts Waterhouse as a “miserable egotist” and a ‘venomous lurking reptile” for his self-serving accounts of the history of cowpox in America.
December 19, 1807
Inoculation Blamed for London Epidemic: A total of 213 person fall victim to smallpox in a four week period in London and inoculation is blamed as the culprit.
April 13, 1808
Cowpox taken after Smallpox Exposure Averts its Onset: Waterhouse contends cowpox virus administered after a smallpox exposure can avert the onset of infection if the vaccination procedure is expedited and intensified.
July 20, 1809
Milton Undertakes first Town-wide Vaccination: Dr. Amos Holbrook vaccinates 337 people of all ages in the town of Milton or about a quarter of its population. This is the first town to undertake a vaccination campaign of this magnitude in America.
September 1809
Waterhouse Vaccinates 1,550 Residents of New Bedford: Working with another physician, Waterhouse vaccinates an estimated 1,500 residents of New Bedford, MA, one of the largest vaccination campaigns in New England. He notified Governor Christopher Gore that this experiment should be extended across the state.
October 10, 1809
The Selectmen of Milton undertake Proof of Cowpox: Like the Boston experiment of 1802, the Selectmen of Milton inoculate 12 children who were vaccinated on July 20, 1809 to confirm the immunity provided by the cowpox vaccine. The smallpox matter was obtained from Dr. Thomas Welsh, Visiting Physician for the Boston Board of Health.
January 6, 1810
Maryland Establishes First State Vaccine Institute: The State legislature passed “An act authorizing a Lottery for the preservation and distribution of the Vaccine Matter, for the use of the Citizens of this State.” Dr. James Smith and 15 other physicians are authorized to start a lottery in Baltimore to raise funds for a vaccine institute to be used for a six year period to vaccinate the states’ citizens free of charge. The profits from the lottery are to be applied to the Vaccine Institute and the distribution of vaccine matter.
March 6, 1810
Massachusetts Establishes First Law Promoting Vaccination Committees to Diffuse Benefits of Cowpox: The General Court makes it the duty of every town where there is no Board of Health to choose three suitable persons whose duty it is supervise the inoculation of the inhabitants.
November 24, 1810
New London, CT Plans a General Vaccination of the Town: The Columbian Centinel declares that New London, CT has initiated a general vaccination of the town.
April 3, 1811
Warren Offers Free Vaccinations for three Months: Dr. John Warren offers free vaccination to the poor of Boston for the period April 1 to July 1, 1811 during which time the Boston Medical Association supports this free service under the sponsorship of the Boston Board of Health.
April 20, 1811
Women Courted to Promote Vaccination: The Boston Board of Health appeals to the ladies of Boston to use their “melting charity” to encourage the poor to get vaccinated.
April 24, 1811
Warren Reissues his Offer of Free Vaccinations: Dr. Warren’s notice of free vaccinations for the poor is republished, encouraging the public to participate in the general vaccination of the population.
June 2, 1812
Waterhouse Vaccinates 500 Boston Residents in last Year: The New England Palladium reports that Waterhouse vaccinates 500 residents and sailors during the last year.
February 1813
Federal Vaccination Law Passed: The nation’s first vaccination law was enacted with the aim of improving the health and well-being of the populace. It was credited with enabling 50,000 vaccinations a year.
May 27, 1813
James Smith advertises availability of Vaccine Matter to Public: Dr. Smith publishes advertisement in the Boston Daily Advertiser declaring his appointment by the President of the United States as the nation’s agent for Vaccination. Those needing vaccine can order it from him through the mail at $5 for “discrete person who wishes to protect their family.
April 10, 1816
Waterhouse Urges General Vaccination: Waterhouse urges Bostonians to take vaccination seriously and to commit to a town-wide vaccination program like that undertaken in 1792.
April 30, 1816
Board of Assessors Undertake a Smallpox Immunity Survey: In order to determine immunity to smallpox the Board of Assessors undertakes a house by house survey of every family to determine how many are not protected and if a general vaccination is required.
May 25 1816
Board of Health Calls for First General Vaccination: The Boston Board of Health calls for a general vaccination and assigns teams of three persons in each of the twelve wards to assist physicians to vaccinate susceptible persons and complete a census of their efforts. The Board also agrees to pay for the expenses associated with the poor. The census workers found that a total of 5,453 were determined to require vaccination.
February 27, 1817
Over 4,500 Vaccinated in Boston: The Boston Board of Health estimates that 4,500 persons were vaccinated in the summer and fall of 1816 out of a total of 5,384 susceptible persons. With an estimated 39,494 persons, 11% of the population was vaccinated but more importantly 82% of those requiring vaccination.
November 1,1821
Smith Starts a Smallpox Epidemic: James Smith, the nation’s first federal vaccinator triggers a smallpox epidemic in Tarboro, NC when he inadvertently mails smallpox scabs, not cowpox to Dr. John Ward.
December 19, 1821
1816 Vaccination Declared a Success: The town-wide vaccination is credited with a virtual total annihilation of smallpox in Boston.
February 20, 1822
Cowpox as not Capable of Creating an Epidemic: Waterhouse notifies the public about the Tarboro, North Carolina smallpox epidemic attributable to Dr. James Smith. He says cowpox vaccine could not have caused this disease despite Smith’s belief that cowpox and smallpox could have been mixed together by a natural process.
1822
Smallpox Epidemic Leads to Reassessment of Federal Law: The accidental mailing of variolous matter to Dr. John F. Ward or Tarborough, North Carolina and the ensuring epidemic of smallpox causes Congress to repeal the federal vaccination law.
April 19, 1822
Politicians Urge Repeal of Vaccination Law: The 17th Congress met on April 13th and proposed repealing the vaccination law of 1813 on the grounds that vaccination should be left to local authorities.
January 21, 1824
Boston Families Visited to Provide Vaccination: Boston’s Vaccination Committee declares there is no danger posed by smallpox due to the vigilant efforts to apply vaccination to all persons living in the city’s 12 wards. All families were visited.
January 31, 1824
Chelmsford Petitions for Annual Town-wide Vaccinations: The town of Chelmsford petitions the General Court to require annual vaccination in all towns in the Commonwealth.
February 11, 1824
February 14, 1824
Bostonians Urged to Get Vaccinated: As part of the second citywide effort, City Health Commissioners urge citizens to avail themselves of the general vaccination being provided.
April 10, 1824
Reimbursement of Private Physicians: A General Committee on Vaccination urges reimbursement of physicians for their work with vaccination in city neighborhoods.
April 10, 1824
Boston Completes Second Citywide Vaccination: Over 10,000 Bostonians are vaccinated throughout the 12 city wards including 4,999 poor people.
1825
Waterhouse Opens Vaccine Institution: Benjamin Waterhouse establishes the Kinepock Institution in the Exchange Building in Boston as well as a satellite office in his own dwelling. He makes the institution available at virtually all hours including Sundays for sailors and at his home for children. He sells cowpox vaccine matter at a fixed price of $5 following the model of the London Vaccine Institution.
February 21, 1826
American Troops Vaccinated: The Secretary of War declares that troops are regularly vaccinated against smallpox and that this practice began in 1818.
June 21, 1827
School Children are Targeted for Vaccination: The General Court orders all school committees in the Commonwealth to identify how many school children have not been vaccinated.
December 17, 1827
March 12, 1828
Required Reporting of Smallpox Cases: The Governor of Massachusetts signs a law requiring physicians to report smallpox cases. This is the first such law in America.
May 14, 1828
Island Quarantine is not Recommended: The Consulting Physicians of Boston recommend not removing smallpox patients from Boston. They urge that ample provision be made for a smallpox hospital within the city.
May 27, 1828
Need for Revaccination Reflects Bad Vaccines: Dr. Chandler Robbins makes the case for revaccination in the Boston Medical & Surgical Journal. Due to poor vaccination procedures, bad vaccines and poor outcomes, he believes there is a clear need for a well-managed revaccination program.
October 21,1830
Smith Recommends Third General Vaccination: J.V.C. Smith, Boston’s Resident Physician recommends a general vaccination of citizens in light of recent smallpox cases.
November 23, 1830
Cowpox Available as a Mail Order Product: Dr. Nathan Jarvis advertises the availability of mail order cowpox virus in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal. This is one the earliest medical mail order businesses in New England.
January 4, 1831
January 4, 1831
November 11, 1830
Resident Physician Tracks the Unvaccinated: J.V.C. Smith personally takes vaccination on Rainsford Island and then indicates he is keeping a list of those Bostonians not vaccinated.
January 31, 1832
General Court Urges Vaccination of School Children: The state legislature urges school committees to establish regulations to protect students. While this Resolution falls short of a legal mandate, it is the first state effort to protect school children.
February 2, 1832
A Bill for Mandatory Vaccination of Children is Defeated: The General Court defeats a resolve that would have urged all towns to enforce the vaccination of school children. It was defeated because it was not thought fair to parents who might not be able to afford it.
February 20, 1832
City Managed Vaccination Clinic Opened: Under the authority of the Mayor, J.V.C. Smith offers vaccination from 8AM to 9PM daily.
March 28, 1832
Mayor Mandates Vaccinations for School Children: For the first time in American history, Boston Mayor Charles Wells declares school children must demonstrate certificates of vaccination to be admitted to Boston’s schools.
March 25, 1835
Physicians Urge Vaccination of Prisoners: The editors of the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal recommend all prisoners in the House of Correction receive a vaccination to avoid the spread of disease.
April 30, 1837
General Laws Are Consolidated Leading to Reinterpretation of Vaccination Requirements: General Court consolidates its laws and represents the 1810 vaccination law as a discretionary measure for local governments. By consolidating the law into the Revised Statutes it was repealed effective April 30, 1837.
May 21, 1838
Compulsory Vaccination for Boston School Children: The Boston Courier declares the next generation of Bostonians secure from smallpox. School age children require vaccination as a condition to school admission.
May 24, 1838
Self -Vaccination Declared a Public Health Danger: The Boston Courier citing a Boston Daily Advertiser story, speaks of the dangers of self-vaccination and vaccinations not performed by a competent physician.
April 20, 1838
General Court Repeals Smallpox reporting Law: At the request of influential physicians and politicians the General Court repeals the smallpox reporting law.
June 4, 1838
Medical Profession offers Fourth Citywide Vaccinations: Massachusetts Medical Society commits its members to providing free vaccinations every Monday in the month of June annually.
January 16, 1840
Smallpox Epidemic Raises Importance of Vaccination: With 80 cases of smallpox in Boston from September 2nd until January 16th, the Boston Courier deems vaccination the solution to the city’s first epidemic of the 19th century.
October 4, 1842
City Begins Reporting its School Vaccination Program: Resident Physician Smith reports that 175 school age children were vaccinated during the quarter ending September 30, 1842. This is one of the first routine reports of vaccination services offered to school age children in America.
March 19, 1850
Vaccination is Deemed Superior to Quarantine: Dr. Henry G. Clark, Boston’s City Physician, declares that vaccination is far more preferable than quarantine as a means of controlling smallpox.
February 3, 1851
Shattuck is Charged with an Assessment of Public Health: Lemuel Shattuck and two other Massachusetts citizens are charged with preparing a report on the health of the Commonwealth including future direction for the use of vaccination in Massachusetts.
September 15, 1853
England and Wales Require Vaccination of Children: The Boston Evening Transcript announces that England has adopted a new law requiring vaccination of every child born in England and Wales after August 1, 1853.
March 17, 1854
Expose of Anti-vaccination Campaigns: Boston Evening Transcript reviews the blind bigotry associated with anti-vaccination campaigns. It suggests such campaigns aim to disenfranchise vaccination by claiming it to be a tool of the devil, anti-religious and generating animalistic behavior in those who take it.
May 19, 1855
Massachusetts Passes First Mandatory Vaccination Law: The General Court requires vaccination of children before the age of two and requires town selectmen to enforce the law. In addition, all prisons, almshouses and incorporated manufacturing companies must also enforce this rule for the poor and the sick.
May 23, 1855
Public Notified of the Requirements of Mandatory Vaccination Law: The Boston Evening Transcript notifies local governments of the new law which requires vaccination for its citizenry and revaccination programs as deemed appropriate.
March 12, 1867
Lack of Enforcement of Compulsory Vaccination: The Boston City Physician declares that if all Bostonians would adhere to vaccination the city could rid itself of smallpox. He urges enforcement of the compulsory vaccination law.
June 10, 1867
One Time Vaccination Declared Inadequate: Boston Journal raises doubts about the one time protection offered by vaccination. Editors claim multiple vaccinations may be needed for full protection.
March 30, 1869
Compulsory Vaccination Ordered in New York City: New York City Board of Health orders vaccination of its entire population.
September 11, 1869
Side Effects of Vaccination Lead to Public Distrust: Boston Journal reports on side effects of vaccination including unintended transmission of other diseases and adverse reactions to the cowpox lymph.. The result is that not everyone trusts vaccination.
January 1, 1870
City Physician Declares High Compliance Rate with Vaccination: Boston City Physician conducts a citywide assessment of smallpox immunity and finds a relatively high level of vaccination (i.e., only 6,308 unvaccinated out 214,859 persons living in the City of Boston in October 1868). By 1869, there were 8, 321 persons unvaccinated out of 222, 983 persons living in Boston.
June 8, 1870
Physician Requests imported Heifers for vaccine: A prominent Boston physician made application to the Department of Treasury to bring 4 heifers into the United States for purposes of extracting the cowpox vaccine directly from the inoculated heifers. The Secretary of the Treasury promised to give this request due consideration.
June 13, 1870
Martin Admits to the Heifer Request: Dr. Henry Martin admits that he requested heifers be sent to the United States for propagation of cowpox vaccine.
June 20, 1870
Cowpox Found in Heifers in America: Dr. Ephraim Cutter contends cowpox can be found in heifers in the United States. He sees no need to get heifers from France.
June 22, 1870
Citizens Urge Free Vaccinations: Anonymous author (Medicus) proclaims the need for free vaccine to aid the city’s smallpox prevention program.
October 22, 1870
Martin Extols Advantages of Heifer Derived Vaccine: Martin extols the virtues of vaccination with lymph from non-humanized sources. His efforts begin to sway public opinion.
January 9, 1871
New Orleans Children Must be Vaccinated: The New Orleans Board of Health orders a vaccination of all school age children, presumably because of fears of an emerging smallpox pandemic.
January 23 1871
State Board Urges a National Vaccination Program for Children: Massachusetts Board of Health urges a systematic adoption of vaccination program for children at the national level like that which exists in England .
February 28, 1871
London Epidemic Triggers Strong interest in Vaccination: Boston Daily Advertiser reports that smallpox has reached epidemic proportions in London. Vaccination lines exceed 100 people at a time.
March 22, 1871
Free and compulsory Vaccinations for Children Credited with Reduced Illness: Boston Journal reports that if it had not been for Boston’s commitment to gratuitous vaccinations and a law requiring children to be vaccinated the city might have fared far worse than it had.
July 7, 1871
Certificates of Vaccination Required for School Admission: The Charlestown, MA School Board requires all children in primary and intermediate grades to show certificates of vaccination to their teachers in order to attend public schools.
July 11, 1871
City Free of Smallpox Presumably due to Vaccinations: The Boston Daily Advertiser declares Boston remarkably free of smallpox due to the efficient use of vaccination.
September 19, 1871
Smallpox Epidemic Hits Lowell: Boston Journal reports a smallpox epidemic in Lowell, MA. The Board of Health plans to make vaccination compulsory in order to stop its rapid spread.
September 21, 1871
Lowell Starts Vaccination Program: Lowell Board of Health begins a vaccination program for its citizens. Corporations in town decide to discharge employees who refuse vaccination.
January 12, 1872
Benefits of Vaccination Extolled: Boston Journal states that the best vaccination available has proven 30 fold more protective than the worst and the worst was 27 times better than none at all. Based on these conclusions, the Journal urges Bostonians get vaccinated to protect itself from the coming scourge.
January 24, 1872
Smallpox Strikes New York City: Smallpox is spreading in New York and public aversion to vaccination is disappearing.
January 26, 1872
Martin Points to the Danger of One Time Vaccination: Martin contends his critics are attempting to slander him and his work by claiming he had contracted smallpox and had died from the disease. He urges vaccination and mentions the limitations of a one-time vaccination.
January 2, 1872
Smallpox Strikes Boston Proving One Time Vaccination is not Enough: With Katherine Koernle struck by smallpox on January 2, 1872, Bostonians experience the beginning of the worst smallpox epidemic of the 19th century. Those previously vaccinated were not necessarily protected unless the vaccination was recently received.
March 25, 1872
Bostonians Learn of New Yorker’s Fear of Vaccination: Boston Journal reports that free vaccination is offered in New York at Police stations but the public is hesitant to avail itself of the service. More than half of all cases are never reported for fear of being removed to an island hospital. Story resonates with Bostonians who face similar concerns.
May 7, 1872
Benefits of Animal Vaccines Discussed with Medical Profession: Use of cowpox from animal supplies provides an opportunity for developing an unlimited quantity of the virus. Physicians learn of the efficiencies associated with heifer derived vaccine and the ease of its mass production.
October 22, 1872
City Physician Knocks Self-Declared Vaccinations: Dr. William Reid, Boston’s City Physician, opines that the method of verifying if citizens have been vaccinated relies on their self-declaration. He contends this results in less than adequate protection of the public from the dangers of smallpox.
October 31, 1872
Cambridge Offers Free Vaccinations for its Poor: The City of Cambridge establishes a new system for giving vaccinations to the poor. All those requiring such prophylaxis must obtain a permit from the health officer at the police district in which they reside.
December 11, 1872
Immigrants Must be Vaccinated before Leaving their Vessel: The Board of Aldermen pass an order requiring the harbor master to stop all immigrants to determine if they have received a vaccination. The City Physician is ordered to provide vaccinations to immigrants before they leave their vessels.
January 6, 1873
Mayor Declares Isolation more effective than Vaccination: Boston Mayor Charles Pierce declared isolation in dedicated smallpox hospitals more effective than vaccination in stopping the disease. He bases his opinion on the experience of the Board of Health in the City of Lowell.
1873
England’s Privy Council Declares Value of Revaccination: Dr. Seaton in a report to the Medical Officer of the Privy Council and Local Government Board in England confirms the value of revaccinations not only in controlling the mortality from smallpox but of usually preventing it.
1873
Private Enterprise Drives the Distribution of Heifer Vaccine: Henry Martin plays a significant role in the dissemination of heifer derived cowpox virus throughout the United States including providing over 60,000 vaccines in the Boston epidemic.
January 17, 1873
Boston Journal Contradicts Mayor’s Emphasis on Isolation: The Journal claims vaccination is the key factor in reducing the death rate in Boston. The Journal’s editors contradict the Mayor’s assertions of the previous week.
January 21, 1873
Board of Health Calls for City’s Fifth General Vaccination: The Board of Health asks all physicians to vaccinate Bostonians and compile records of those vaccinated to ensure complete coverage of the population. This public/private partnership is a major step forward in vaccination tracking within the city.
January 24, 1873
Vaccine Purity is a Matter of Public Debate: Public comment on proposed new legislation raises concern with the impurity of the smallpox vaccine, its lack of reliability and efficacy.
January 27, 1873
Quality of Vaccine Questioned: The Committee on Public Charitable Institutions held a hearing on the purity of smallpox vaccines. There was general concern with the quality of the vaccine. It was believed Dr. Martin was the only one who had met a high standard of quality and that the lack of quality contributed to its poor performance in stopping smallpox during the last 12 months.
January 25, 1873
One Medical Inspector Appointed for each Ward: The Board of Health appoints one medical inspector for each ward with power to appoint two or three assistants to provide vaccination from January 27, 1873 until March 15, 1873.
January 28, 1873
State Board of Health Urges Vaccination, Isolation & Disinfection: The Massachusetts Board of Health urges three major actions in all cities in towns; 1) vaccination of all citizens, 2) isolation of those with smallpox and 3) destruction of the virus on clothing and other fomites.
February 1, 1873
Boston Board of Health Offer Free Vaccinations: The Board of Health issues its first vaccination and quarantine regulations. The regulations announce the availability of free vaccinations with a team of physicians available in each of the city’s 16 wards.
March 4, 1883
City Orders Port Physician to Reside on Deer Island: The City Council amends the ordinance establishing a Board of Health to require the Port Physician to reside on Deer Island and be superintendent and physician for the quarantine establishment located there. Furthermore, the Port Physician or the Assistant Port Physician may be directed to provide the services required of them by the Mayor or the Board of Health with respect to quarantine.
June 4, 1873
Dr. Webb Confirms Vaccinations Attenuate with Time: Boston Daily Advertiser gives front page coverage to Dr. Melville Webb’s vaccination study at the Boston smallpox hospital. He confirms that vaccinations, if only received once, were unlikely to be effective unless performed recently. Vaccination’s value attenuates with time.
July 15, 1873
Vaccination Campaign Declared A Success: The Boston Board of Health releases its first annual report and declares that 14,977 persons were vaccinated during the smallpox epidemic of 1872/73.
January 23, 1874
State Board of Health Urges Supervision of Vaccination: The Massachusetts Board of Health recommends vesting supervision of vaccination within its own agency with all the necessary powers to carry it out effectually.
1873
City Bought Tents for Smallpox Epidemic: Board of Aldermen acknowledges city bought a large quantity of tents for use on Gallop’s Island in the event of a future epidemic. This purchase was said to have been made in 1873.
October 13, 1876
Cambridge School Committee Sets Vaccination Standards: Cambridge School Committee tells teachers to refuse vaccination certifications if they are not signed or if signed by a physician unknown to the teacher.
June 22, 1878
Vaccination is an Ancient Indian Art: The Boston Journal reports that the London Medical Examiner has announced that one of its medical reporters found evidence smallpox vaccinations were performed thousands of years ago in India. The evidence is based on manuscripts found in Pondicherry, India.
February 24, 1879
Compulsory Vaccination for Prisoners: Boston Journal reports that prisoners in Massachusetts are compelled to undergo vaccination. A prison visitor believed this coercive practice to be one of the most primitive of the prison life experiences.
February 10, 1880
Citizens Urge Repeal of Compulsory Vaccination: The General Court’s Committee on Public Health heard a petition at public hearing for the repeal of compulsory vaccination. Physicians attended as well and argued against this decision.
November 5, 1880
Public Debate on Vaccination Heats up: Alfred E. Giles, a resident of Hyde Park attends the first meeting of the Massachusetts Public Health Association and suggests that vaccination should not be mandatory. He is strongly opposed by those in attendance. This represents one of the first formal confrontations of vaccination in a public health forum.
1882
Anthrax Vaccine Announced: Louis Pasteur, Emile Roux, and Charles Chamberland publicly immunize sheep, cow and a goat against anthrax.
February 11, 1881
Need for Vaccination of pre-school children Identified: The editors of the Boston Medical & Surgical Journal urge vaccination for pre-school children based on their exceptionally high mortality during the 1872 epidemic. The Journal’s editors also point to revaccination as a public health necessity.
June 1881
Length of immunity offered by one time Vaccination not known: Austin Flint believes it is not safe to allow more than 5 years to pass before getting re-vaccinated. He also underscores the value of the bovine virus over the humanized virus in providing protection (i.e., virus derived from arm to arm transfer of cowpox lymph).
October 1881
Boston Initiates the Sixth General Vaccination: A total of 25,340 persons are vaccinated in a population of 371,403. The cost for the vaccine is $10,000. The vaccination campaign begins October 1, 1881 and lasts until March 1, 1882. Physicians determine the number of vaccine scars has a direct correlation to the degree of protection the poor were provided by the cowpox vaccine.
April 5, 1882
Boston Imposes Vaccination Requirements on Immigrants: The Board of Health orders immigrants at arrival at quarantine be subject to examination as regards their protection from smallpox and receive vaccination. Those not recently vaccinated are subject to the same requirements as the unvaccinated. The immigrants are required to pay the port physician 25 cents for the vaccination. If unwilling to do so, they are subject to a quarantine of observation.
April 18, 1882
Opponents of Compulsory Vaccination Fail: The Public Health Committee of the General Court fails to garner enough support for a modification of the compulsory vaccination law to require use of an animal virus. An effort to repeal the compulsory law is withdrawn.
1882
Opponents of Vaccination Organize: The New England Anti-Compulsory Vaccination League is founded with an inaugural meeting in Hartford, CT. Three years later the Anti-Vaccination League of New York City is founded.
January 18, 1883
Opponents of Compulsory Vaccination Fail Again: The General Court received yet another petition to abolish compulsory vaccination and this petition is rejected.
November 13, 1883
American Public Health Association Downplays Need for Compulsory Vaccination: The Committee on Compulsory Vaccination of the American Public Health Association declares mandatory vaccination programs are not necessarily appropriate in light of the vaccine phobia that exists. The Committee recommends vaccination be administered in synchronization with anticipated epidemics but acknowledges mandatory vaccination reduced mortality in England during the 1870 world smallpox pandemic.
January 29, 1884
Another Petition to Abolish Compulsory Vaccination: General Court received yet another petition to abolish compulsory vaccination and like previous efforts it was rejected.
March 7, 1884
Sick Children Denied Access to School: The General Court empowers School Committees to refuse admission to students with Smallpox, Diphtheria or Scarlet Fever or for a two week period after the death or recovery of the sick person.
April 29, 1885
Physicians must approve Sick Coming Back to School: The General Court modifies the law of 1894 that empowers School Committees to refuse admission to students with Smallpox, Diphtheria or Scarlet Fever. The new law requires sick children to gain re-admission with a certificate from a physician or Board of Health.
February 3, 1887
Opponents of Compulsory Vaccination Fail Again: The General Court received yet another petition to abolish compulsory vaccination.
February 20, 1888
Opponents of Compulsory Vaccination Fail Again: General Court received yet another petition to abolish compulsory vaccination.
April 29, 1890
Passenger Sues Cunard Steamship Line over Compulsory Vaccination: A steerage passenger sues the Cunard Steamship Co. line for $10,000 for physical damage done by being forced to take vaccination on a steamer bound for Boston.
1890
Diphtheria Vaccination Developed: Emil von Behring discovers antitoxins and uses them to develop tetanus and diphtheria vaccines.
March 25, 1892
Opponents of Compulsory Vaccination Fail Again: The General Court received yet another petition to abolish compulsory vaccination.
May 14, 1892
Passengers Complain about Indecent Shipboard Vaccinations: Assistant Physician, Lane is blamed for unprofessional behavior while conducting vaccinations of women aboard the Samaria. The Globe sensationalizes the coverage of the event claiming women were forced to disrobe in public before gawking men.
1893
Boston Initiates Its Seventh General Vaccination: A total of 100,000 persons out of a population of 482,202 persons were vaccinated at a cost of $25,000 for the vaccine lymph. In the process of completing a systematic vaccination of the population, the Board of Health discovered that many school children were not vaccinated as required by law. This triggered a citywide vaccination campaign in the school system with 59,477 students examined. The Board determined that 1,678 students did not have vaccinations and 3,400 were absent on the day of the examinations.
May 6, 1894
Board of Health Given Authority over Vaccine Institutions: The General Court requires all vaccine institutions to be under the supervision of the Massachusetts board of health. This is the first American law to establish controls over the management of medical products offered to the public.
June 25, 1894
Parents must vaccinate their children before age 2: The General Court provides for an exemption for children who obtain a certificate from their physician indicating they are unfit for vaccination. Without a certificate children are denied access to public schools. Boards of Health have authority to require vaccination and revaccination when public health or safety requires it. Those over 21 years of age who do not comply are subject to a $5 fine. Boards are also responsible for furnishing the means of free vaccination or revaccination.
July 6, 1894
Advertiser Announces Compulsory Vaccination Modified for Unfit Children: Bostonians learn about the compulsory vaccination law that exempts unfit children from the law. The story is buried on page 6 of the Boston Daily Advertiser.
July 1895
Diphtheria Antitoxin Serum drawn from Immunized Horses: The Board of Health used six horses stationed on Gallop’s Island to prepare the first batch of diphtheria antitoxin. The first batch provided 400 doses or 4,000 cubic centimeters per month. This is the first antitoxin serum issued by the Board of Health.
September 4, 1900
Rockland Board of Health Demands Greater Accountability from Physicians: Board of Health in Rockland, MA is unwilling to accept certificates from physicians stating that children are unfit for vaccination. This crisis emerges because the Board of Health questions the authority of physicians to make professional decision concerning the danger of vaccination.
January 23, 1901
Another Petition to Abolish Compulsory Vaccination: The General Court received yet another petition to abolish compulsory vaccination. This petition proposes vaccination to be a decision requiring parent’s and child’s consent.
February 9, 1901
Residents Demand Repeal of Compulsory Vaccination: Large numbers of people, many from Rockland, attend a public hearing to demand alteration of the compulsory vaccination law.
September 13, 1901
Elevated Railway Employees Told to Get Vaccinated: Employees of Boston’s elevated railways are required to get vaccination if their job requires routine contact with the public.
October 9, 1901
Employees of Elevated Railway Get Sick: Many employees of the elevated railway get sick from vaccination which may have been administered improperly according to Samuel Durgin, Chairman of the Board of Health.
November10, 1901
Durgin Calls for Eighth Citywide Vaccination: Samuel Durgin urges citizens to get vaccinated in light of a growing number of smallpox cases. He encourages those over 10 to get revaccinated if they have not recently been vaccinated. More importantly, he acknowledges that many vaccinations have not been properly done.
November 16, 1901
Postal Workers Urged to Get Vaccinated: Boston Postmaster Hibbard requests all 1,900 Postal employees in Boston’s Main Post Office and its stations to get vaccinated. “Walk in” cases of smallpox begin to appear in Boston City Hospital leading to the lockdown of the hospital’s outpatient clinic and a subsequent formaldehyde disinfection.
November 18, 1901
Forcible Vaccination Program Targets Tramps: Boston Board of Health deploys “virus squads” to force compulsory vaccination of those who frequent cheap lodging houses. The duty of the physicians who are on the squad is to visit the cheap lodging houses and vaccinate all the men they find there, whether the lodgers are yearning for free vaccination or not. Their experiences in the two nights they have been at work at work have convinced the doctors these are not only some very dirty but some very tough men to be found in the city. As a precautionary measure, the Board of Health made a requisition on the Police Department for some strapping patrolmen to go around with its surgeons on their nocturnal vaccinating tours. Each of the squad of physicians had four strong armed patrolmen detailed to go with them. These men forcibly held down the city’s tramps sitting on their faces and legs while the surgeons forced them to be vaccinated. More extreme violations of civil liberties have rarely been seen.
November 19, 1901
Board of Health Urges Increased Vaccination: With a widening epidemic the Boston Board of Health urges vaccination of those who gather in large numbers.
November 24, 1901
British Start Vaccination Teas: British initiate “Vaccination Teas” aimed at getting ladies to get vaccinated in a social setting once they are encouraged to adopt the process. The “teas” are said to be an important preparatory step to protecting the public health prior to the Coronation planned soon.
November 27, 1901
Christian Science Leader Urges Compliance: Mary Baker Eddy urges vaccination as required by law but pleas for God’s help to overcome the disease. The Boston Globe publishes the Christian Scientist’s position in its November 27, 1901 issue.
December 2, 1901
Vaccination Services Expand with Epidemic: Board of Health begins large scale vaccinations throughout Boston. Masses of people seek out these services as the epidemic continues.
December 15, 1901
Over 200,000 Vaccinated in less than a Month: Board of Health announces that 200,000 citizens have already taken vaccination thanks to the leadership of the Elevated Railway staff and the Boston & Maine Railway system.
December 20, 1901
Benefits of Glycerin Extolled by City Official: Dr. McCollom, a member of the Boston Board of Health, states that the use of glycerin has been essential to the reduction of sore arms for those getting vaccinated.
December 27, 1901
Boston Completes Largest Vaccination in America: Boston Board of Health vaccinates over 400,000 people in record time. At that time, it was the largest public vaccination initiative in American history with 70% of the population of 571,861 vaccinated in a matter of weeks.
January 27, 1902
Durgin Defensive About Pfeiffer’s Case of Smallpox: Samuel Durgin reviews his approval to allow Dr. Pfeiffer to visit the Gallop’s Island detention hospital even without a recent vaccination. Pfeiffer violated consent agreement by leaving hospital in an infected state. Meanwhile the Board of Health continues its massive effort to complete vaccinations including surprise vaccinations of East Boston residents when they were least expecting such a response. Unannounced, hordes of physicians descended on East Boston early Sunday morning to complete the work of vaccinating anyone who had not yet received it in the last five years.
January 28, 1902
115 Physicians ordered to Vaccinate 10,000: Boston Globe reports that the Board of Health hired 115 physicians to vaccinate 10,000 East Boston residents. Some did not comply and their addresses were taken. Dr. Durgin claims they will be required to comply later on.
January 30, 1902
Public Outcry Again Compulsory Vaccination: Citizen outcries emerge against compulsory vaccination and legislators reassess the current laws on this topic.
January 31, 1902
Boards of Health Urged to Attend Hearings & Support Vaccination: The Association of Massachusetts Board of Health resolved that their members should attend public hearings to voice their support for compulsory vaccination. The Association also passed a resolution that no persons employed in the Post Office should engage in business as undertakers, or nurses or have charge of ambulances or work in hospitals.
February 1, 1902
Durgin Speaks at Hearing & Explains Benefits of Vaccination: Samuel Durgin, Chairman of the Boston Board of Health, attends the public hearing on vaccination and explains its benefits to state legislators. He offers to have Senator Williams visit the island detention hospital. Williams agrees but when told that vaccination was a prerequisite to the visit, he refuses, with wild applause from the audience of citizens opposing vaccination.
February 3, 1902
Durgin Reviews Impacts to Public Health Without Vaccination: Durgin attends another hearing at which he reminds citizens that if the city did not offer vaccination there would be incalculable adverse impacts on public commerce and immigration. Without vaccination immigrants would be required to remain in quarantine until potential smallpox exposure were validated. Quarantine, he contends, is not an appropriate strategy for smallpox as long as vaccination was an option.
February 4, 1902
Enormous Crowds Attend Vaccination Hearings: The General Court holds its third hearing on the Repeal of the Compulsory Law. The hearing drew out such large crowds that the Globe reported that the biggest committee room in the State House was not large enough to accommodate the people who desired to attend the hearing. The pro-vaccinationists held sway this day based on an agenda that gave them the entire morning session to make their case.
February 5, 1902
Vaccines Found to be Contaminated with Bacteria: Dr. Caroline Hastings presents evidence that the points used to administer vaccine are often contaminated with bacteria with levels as high as 89,000 colonies per point. She said that there was no way to eliminate bacteria from the glycerin that was used. Other witnesses spoke of the skin damage done by vaccination and adverse impact on their complexion.
February 7, 1902
Homeopaths Support Vaccination: The Boston Homeopathic Medical Society went on record as supporting vaccination.
February 9, 1902
Anti-Vaccination Leader Contracts Smallpox: Dr. Pfeiffer contracts smallpox from his visit to Gallop’s Island. He is said to have a virulent case and may not survive. This is front page news.
February 13, 1902
Pfeiffer Derided for his Behavior: Boston Globe editors call Pfeiffer’s case of smallpox one of unparalleled asininity and proclaim vaccination’s value.
February 17, 1902
Bedford Citizens Consider Suing Boston Board of Health: Citizens of Bedford, MA, where Immanuel Pfeiffer resides, consider a law suit to recover the economic damages created by the Boston Board of Health’s failure to properly regulate Pfeiffer while on Gallop’s Island as required by their own regulations (i.e. vaccination).
February 21, 1902
Current Epidemic Blamed on Lax Vaccination Program: Dr. Samuel Abbott of the Massachusetts Board of Health claims the current epidemic was due to the laxity in the law of 1894 that allowed for exemptions from vaccinations.
February 21, 1902
Jail Time for Refusing Vaccination: Charles E. Cate is sent to Charles Street today for a 15 day sentence because he refused vaccination and then refused to pay the $5 fine when ordered to do so by Chief Justice Brown. This is the first case of its kind that the Boston Board of Health brought to court according to Durgin. Durgin stated that if Cate leaves jail in 15 days he will be re-arrested until he complies. Cate counters that he will stay in jail 100 years if he has to but will not be vaccinated.
February 23, 1902
Anti-Vaccination Position Not Supported: Boston Globe reports that the Public Health Committee of the General Court is unlikely to support the anti-vaccination bills.
February 27, 1902
Anti-Vaccination Bills Not Supported: Boston Globe reports that Public Health Committee of the General Court continues to oppose the anti-vaccination bills. Only Durgin’s bill is supported which addresses the need for an exemption from vaccination to protect the health of patients not fit for vaccination.
March 10, 1902
Pfeiffer Recovers from Smallpox: Dr. Pfeiffer recovers from his smallpox infection. He remains adamantly opposed to vaccination according to a Boston Globe reporter who interviewed his son over the telephone.
March 11, 1902
Senators Call for Physical Examination if Exemption from Vaccination Desired: On a vote of 17 to 15 the Senate adopted the “Williams amendment” requiring examination not only of children but adults when getting a certificate of exemption from a physician.
March 12, 1902
Senators Modify their Proposed Vaccination Law: On a vote of 17 to 13 the Senate reversed their position on the “Williams amendment” making compulsory vaccination not required as long as a person has a certificate from a physician.
March 19, 1902
Vaccination Law of 1894 is Modified: It deletes reference to those over 21 years of age so as to make the vaccination requirements applicable to all persons and the penalties as well. In addition, it makes it more difficult for parents to obtain exemptions from vaccinations for their children by requiring the physician to have personally examined the child and found that ill health would endanger his or her life.
April 26, 1902
Court Hears Challenge to Compulsory Vaccination: The Massachusetts Supreme Court hears the first case challenging the state’s compulsory vaccination law.
November 13, 1902
Government Official Bucks the Law: Assistant City Clerk for Cambridge refuses vaccination to test the law.
December 9, 1902
Physician Calls for Systematic Regulation of Vaccine Lymph: Dr. Peter Bryce confirms that aged supplies of humanized lymph stored in tubes, due to age or imperfect storage is not as effective as perfectly fresh lymph for vaccinations. He recommends testing of virus before distribution to physicians. He also finds that the virus can provide extended immunity for twenty or even fifty years by providing partial protection against variolous infection. Complete immunity can only be attained through revaccination. Bryce calls for systematic regulation of the vaccine lymph to improve its quality and performance.
December 9, 1902
Limited Number of Producers of Vaccine Lymph: Dr. Peter Bryce declares that with the exception of the City of New York and some private companies no lymph is produced in the United States and Canada.
January 1, 1903
Boston Experienced the Brunt of the Pox Epidemic: The Boston Globe editors report 2,263 cases of smallpox in Massachusetts and almost half were in Boston. Because of vaccination the epidemic is believed to be almost over.
February 15, 1903
Tuberculosis Vaccine for Cows Under Development: A bovine tuberculosis vaccination experiment is underway with Dr. Leonard Pearson, Dean of the Veterinary Department of the University of Pennsylvania.
March 5, 1903
Harvard President Urges State to Improve Vaccine Quality: President Elliott of Harvard urges the Commonwealth to assume responsibility for the purity of vaccine lymph by placing this responsibility under the aegis of the State Board of Health.
April 3, 1903
Massachusetts Supreme Court Upholds Vaccination Law: Boston Globe editors report the Massachusetts Supreme Court declared vaccination is constitutional.
June 26, 1903
Board of Health to Control Vaccine Quality and distribution: The General Court authorizes the Board of Health to have oversight over vaccine institutions and may, for the use of the people of the Commonwealth, produce and distribute anti-toxin and vaccine lymph.
November 8, 1903
Mugford Must Get Vaccinated: John H. Mugford who fought vaccination and was defeated in the Massachusetts Supreme Court, is required to get vaccinated. If he should choose jail, vaccination would occur automatically due to the requirement that it be imposed on all prisoners. Mindful of that, Mugford dawdles.
November 25, 1903
Mugford Hauled Back to Court: Mugford returns to court for failure to obtain vaccination in a reasonable time.
February 21, 1905
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Massachusetts Vaccination Law: The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of mandatory vaccination laws by declaring that the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts had the authority to require vaccination to protect the public health.
April 1, 1908
Repeal of Vaccination for Children Under Two Years of Age: The General Court repeals section 136 of Chapter 75 relative to vaccination of children under two years of age. The law took effect upon passage.
September 27, 1913
Typhoid Vaccine Offered: Board of Health Orders Typhoid vaccination urging Physicians to support the effort to quell the epidemic in Charlestown.
April 10, 1914
State Senate Considers Changes to Vaccination Law: The Massachusetts Senate considers changes to the compulsory vaccination law. The public is concerned with the law’s impact on school attendance for those who do not want vaccination.
May 1, 1914
Board of Health Asked to Investigate Vaccine’s Safety: The Senate requests the Massachusetts Board of Public Health to determine how other states regulate vaccination and to provide data on the current method of ensuring the safety of the vaccine virus.
May 7, 1914
State Board of Health Reports Limited Illness from Vaccination: Board of Health reports back the State Senate that only 10 cases of illness occurred from vaccination during the period 1904 to 1911.
May 15, 1914
Compulsory Vaccination Remains the Law in Massachusetts: House rejects changes to the compulsory vaccination law despite support in State Senate.
March 24, 1916
Parents Can Opt-Out of Vaccination: Massachusetts approves vaccination law allowing parents to opt out of vaccination for their children. The vote is 127 to 105 with the focus on the parent’s right to refuse vaccination for their children.
May 13, 1918
Senators Reject Mandatory Vaccination for School Children: Senate rejects a bill to make vaccination mandatory before a child could attend a public school.
April 2, 1919
Vaccination Law Remains Unchanged: The Massachusetts Senate refuses to repeal the compulsory vaccination law.
May 28, 1919
Private School Not Required to Vaccinate: The Massachusetts Senate refuses extending the compulsory vaccination law to private schools. One senator said it would mean they would need a vaccination to attend a seminar at a private university.
July 22, 1919
Vaccination Required for Canadian Travel: Those traveling to Canadian Provinces are required to get a smallpox vaccination.
April 7, 1920
Private Schools Not Required to Vaccinate: The Massachusetts Senate once again refuses extending the compulsory vaccination law to private schools.
March 7, 1922
Medical Inspections Authorized when No Certificate: The General Court authorizes medical inspections of public schools when children return to school without a certificate from the board of health after an absence on account of illness from infectious or contagious disease.
May 1, 1922
Harvard Physician Urges Diphtheria Vaccination Program: Dr. Phillip Castleman of Harvard Medical School urges a vaccination program for Diphtheria.
January 11, 1923
Postmaster General Offers Free Vaccinations to Employees: PMG Hubert Work announces he is offering free vaccination for all 333,000 of his employees for smallpox, typhoid fever, and paratyphoid. The Secretary of the Treasury has agreed to provide this vaccination service using the staff of the U.S. Public Health Service.
March 16, 1923
Private Schools Not Required to Vaccinate: The Massachusetts Senate once again refuses extending the compulsory vaccination law to private schools.
August 30, 1924
U.S. Surgeon General Urges State Level Vaccination Programs: Surgeon General Cumming urges states to apply vaccination or he threatens to take action at the national level to impose a federal embargo on interstate travel.
April 30, 1925
Government Workers in Washington Urged to Get Vaccinated: USPHS requests all 65,000 government works in Washington DC to be vaccinated for smallpox.
July 30, 1925
Boston School District Offers Diphtheria Treatments: Dr. John Ceconi of the Boston School District announces he will offer the Diphtheria anti-toxin treatment to students in the fall school semester. The treatment will be offered with the consent of the parents.
August 7, 1925
Health Commissioner Urges Vaccination: Boston City Health Commissioner F.X. Mahoney urges timely vaccination to avoid smallpox.
March 31, 1926
Private Schools Not Required to Vaccinate: Massachusetts Senate kills a bill to extend vaccination to private schools after the House of Representatives approved such a measure.
May 20, 1926
Steerage Passengers No Longer Require Vaccinations: USPHS drops requirements for steerage passengers to have smallpox vaccinations unless they are coming from an epidemic area.
November 18, 1926
Globe Spoofs New York City Dog Vaccination: Boston Dogs may be subject to vaccination. Apparently, a spoof of a New York Board of Health initiative.
March 24, 1927
Private Schools Not Required to Vaccinate: Massachusetts Senate kills yet another bill to extend vaccination to private schools.
May 19, 1927
Syphilis Not Caught By Vaccination Asserts Surgeon General: Surgeon General Cumming and others refute any link between syphilis and smallpox vaccination.
1933
Smallpox Free: First Year in Massachusetts History without a Smallpox Case:
May 3, 1938
Law Changed to Require Certificate of Vaccination for School: A new law results in vaccination only being applied to children entering school system. This is a major contraction of the smallpox vaccination program and reflects the declining threat posed by smallpox within the Commonwealth.
April 14, 1955
Quarter of Million Children Receive Anti-Polio Vaccine: Close to 250,000 Massachusetts children receive anti-polio vaccinations this week using the Salk vaccine.
February 10, 1956
General Court makes Polio Vaccine Available to Children: The Commissioner of Public Health is authorized to make polio vaccine available to children from age 1 to 19 on an emergency basis.
May 21, 1964
Department of Health Given Broad Power to Control Vaccine Production: The General Court authorizes the Department of Health to Purchase, Produce and Distribute vaccines, anti-toxins, etc when needed in an emergency.
1966
State Measles Vaccination Program Begins: The Massachusetts Department of Health recommends babies of 9 to 12 months of age be given the attenuated measles vaccine.
September 6, 1967
Expansion of Vaccination Coverage for Children: The General Court expands vaccination program from smallpox to cover diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles and poliomyelitis and such other communicable diseases as may be specified by the Board of Health from time to time. The law also provides for a religious exemption from vaccination provided that the parent or child is a member in good standing in a church, objects on religious grounds to vaccination and the church official signs an affidavit of these facts.
December 28, 1967
RH Negative Vaccine Offered: Massachusetts begins a vaccination program for RH negative mothers.
January 1969
State Mumps Program Begins: The Massachusetts Department of Health recommends mumps vaccination. In January 1969 it recommends a Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccination program for those 12 months of age.
December 21, 1969
Link Between Cancer and Viruses Emerges: Scientist link virus to cancer and pose the potential value of vaccination concepts in the cure of various cancers.
May 13, 1971
General Court allows Religious Exemption from Vaccination: Except in the case of an epidemic declared by the Department of Public Health, a vaccination exemption is granted to parents based on their religious belief. Such exemption means that no physician’s certificate of vaccination is required.
September 21, 1971
World Health Organization Permits the Death of Mandatory Smallpox Vaccinations: The Globe reports that the WHO says nations can terminate mandatory smallpox vaccination requirements.
April 13, 1972
General Court Drops Smallpox Vaccination: With the decline of smallpox in the United States, The General Court eliminates the requirement for a smallpox vaccination for children to gain admission to school.
April 19, 1974
Testing for Rubella required for Certain Females: Due to the risks of contracting rubella during pregnancy, the General Court declares females that require a medical certificate under Chapter 28 of the Statutes for marriage are to be tested for rubella. If tested and not found immune to rubella they are to be advised of the risks of the disease during pregnancy and the availability of an immunizing vaccine.
February 1977
State MMR Program Altered: The Massachusetts Department of Health recommends vaccination for those 15months of age. This new policy reflects CDC recommendations of the previous year.
June 30, 1977
Gonorrhea Vaccine Developed: University of Pittsburgh scientists develop a vaccine for gonorrhea.
July 8, 1979
Dangers of Communicable Disease Remain Real: A Globe reporter states that the politicians eliminated the health cards used for travelers not the physicians. He urges travelers to be aware of disease prevalence in locations they visit.
1981
All 50 States have School Vaccination Laws: All 50 states have adopted laws requiring vaccination of school children before admission to school for first entrants. This practice has dramatic impact on improving immunity to communicable diseases like measles, diphtheria, and haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
January 6, 1983
Mumps & Rubella Added to School Requirements: The requirement to obtain a mumps and rubella vaccination is added to school requirements for kindergarten through grade 12 via Commonwealth regulations.
May 30, 1985
Massachusetts Students required to get Vaccinated: The General Court passes “An Act requiring immunization of certain college students” to ensure immunization against measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus and diphtheria for all full time students under 30 years of age or graduate students in a health science in the commonwealth who is in contact with patients. Those who believe that immunization would conflict with their religious beliefs are not required to obtain a medical certificate unless there is an emergency or epidemic of disease declared by the department of health. The law took partial effect on September 1, 1986 for freshmen and full effect for all undergraduate and graduate students on September 1, 1990. Health Science students were governed by these provisions as of September 1, 1986.
November 14, 1986
Congress Enacts National Childhood Vaccine Injury Law: In response to concerns with the safety of vaccines, Congress established procedures for informing those who are vaccinated of their risks; tracking cases of adverse reactions and providing a system for compensation for those injured by vaccines.
1989
Haemophilus Influenzae (Hib) Required for Day Care children ages 18 to 33 months of age: Office for Children in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, issues day care regulations requiring Hib vaccine for 18 to 33 month old children.
1992
Hib and Hepatitis B Vaccinations Required: Office of Children issues regulations requiring Children born January 1, 1993 to have Hib vaccinations and hepatitis B vaccinations when attending day care.
December 16, 1994
Increased Vaccination Requirements for Kindergarten: School regulations are promulgated to increase the DTP requirement to 5 doses, polio to 4 does and require a second dose of measles vaccine at Kindergarten entry effective September 1995. The regulations also require 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine at kindergarten entry effective September 1996.
October 16, 2020
COVID-19 Vaccination Plan: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health releases its vaccination strategy for Covid-19 aimed to address the distribution of anticipated vaccines, identify the appropriate target groups to receive the vaccine, establish coordination mechanisms for managing the vaccine rollout amongst all levels of government and provide requisite training on the vaccine and its administration.
Explanation of Terms:
ARRE = Annual Report of Receipts & Expenditures, Boston
ARGC = Annual Report of the General Court of Massachusetts
MDPH = Massachusetts Department of Public Health
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