when were vaccines invented

Vaccines were first invented in the late 18th century. English physician Dr. Edward Jenner is credited with creating the first vaccination in 1796. He used material from cowpox, a disease related to smallpox, to inoculate an 8-year- old boy, James Phipps. This method demonstrated that exposure to cowpox provided immunity against smallpox. The term "vaccination" comes from "vacca," the Latin word for cow, in reference to this origin. Following Jenner's pioneering work, vaccine development progressed with notable advancements such as Louis Pasteur's rabies vaccine in 1885 and various vaccines throughout the 20th century, including those for diphtheria, pertussis, polio, and influenza. The field of vaccinology has continued to evolve with new vaccines being developed based on molecular biology and immunologic markers in the modern era.