Vaccine Revolt

Vaccine Revolt

The Vaccine Revolt or the Vaccine Revolt of 1904 was a period of civil unrest that occurred in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in November 1904. The revolt was triggered by a compulsory smallpox vaccination campaign initiated by the Brazilian federal government.

Background

In the early 20th century, Rio de Janeiro was suffering from a series of public health crises. Diseases such as yellow fever, smallpox, and bubonic plague were rampant. In an effort to combat these diseases, the Brazilian government initiated a series of public health reforms under the leadership of public health official Oswaldo Cruz. One of these reforms was a compulsory vaccination campaign against smallpox.

The Revolt

The compulsory vaccination campaign was met with widespread resistance from the public. Many people were suspicious of the vaccine, and there were rumors that the vaccine was actually a means of sterilizing the population. The resistance eventually escalated into a full-blown revolt, with violent clashes between the public and the police. The revolt lasted for about a week, and resulted in the temporary suspension of the vaccination campaign.

Aftermath

Despite the initial resistance, the vaccination campaign was eventually successful in eradicating smallpox from Rio de Janeiro. The Vaccine Revolt is considered a significant event in the history of public health in Brazil, and has been the subject of numerous studies and historical analyses.

See also

• History of smallpox
• History of vaccines
• Public health in Brazil