Quadrivalent groups A, C, Y, and W-135 (Menomune A/C/Y/W-135 by Connaught) meningococcal vaccine was licensed
On Nov. 23, 1981, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration licensed Quadrivalent groups A, C, Y, and W-135…
The costs of pneumococcal vaccine and its administration became a covered benefit under Medicare Part B
On Jul. 1, 1981, as a result of the enactment of Public Law 96-611 passed by the U.S….
First human viral vaccine to prevent cancer (hepatitis B vaccine for liver cancer) was introduced
In 1981, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine for human use….
Biotechnology | CDC | Diagnostics | Influenza | Life Science News | Vaccine
CDC began collecting reports of influenza outbreaks from state and territorial epidemiologists
In 1981, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began collecting reports of influenza outbreaks from…
Rabies human diploid-cell vaccine (Imovax Rabies by Merieux and Wyvac by Wyeth) were licensed
On Jun. 9, 1980, the rabies human diploid-cell vaccine (Imovax Rabies by Merieux, now Sanofi, and Wyvac by…
The World Heath Organization announced that “smallpox has been eradicated from the world”
On May 8, 1980, members of the World Heath Organization (WHO) in Geneva announced that “smallpox had been…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | Life Science News | Measles | Vaccine | WHO
The World Health Assembly certified the world free of naturally-occurring smallpox
On May 8, 1980, the World Health Assembly certified the world free of naturally-occurring smallpox. Smallpox is an…
The last cases of wild type 1 poliovirus occurred in the U.S.
On Jul. 27, 1979, the last cases of wild type 1 poliovirus occurred in the U.S. among unvaccinated…
The RA 27/3 (human diploid fibroblast) strain of rubella vaccine (Meruvax II by Merck) was licensed; all other strains discontinued
In 1979, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed the RA 27/3 (human diploid fibroblast) strain of…
The last wild case of polio was recorded in the U.S.
In 1979, the last wild case of polio was recorded in the U.S. However, In 1993, the virus…
Yellow fever vaccine (YF-Vax by Connaught) was licensed in the U.S.
On Jan. 3, 1978, the Yellow fever vaccine (YF-Vax by Connaught) was licensed in the U.S. The Yellow…
Monovalent group A, group C meningococcal vaccines, and a bivalent vaccine for both groups A and C were licensed
On Jan. 3, 1978, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed the Monovalent group A (Menomune-A by…
Biology | CDC | Diagnostics | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | NIH | Plague | Therapeutics | Vaccine
The CDC opened an expanded maximum containment lab (hot lab) for highly dangerous viruses
In 1978, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) completed construction of a new hot lab…
The first pneumococcal vaccine was licensed
On Nov. 21, 1977, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed the first pneumococcal vaccine containing 14…
The last naturally occurring case of smallpox in the world was diagnosed in Somalia
On Oct. 30, 1977, Ali Maow Maalin, a hospital cook in Merca, Somalia, was diagnosed with smallpox by…
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PATH was founded with seed money from the Ford Foundation
On May 12, 1977, the Program for the Introduction and Adaptation of Contraceptive Technology (PIACT) was founded by…
CDC | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | Measles | NIH | U.S. Congress | Vaccine
U.S. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare (HHS) announced nationwide Childhood Immunization Initiative
On Apr. 6, 1977, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (now Department of Health and Human Services)…
swine flu vaccination program in the U.S. Suspended following reports of paralysis
On Oct. 13, 1976, the swine flu vaccination program in the U.S. was suspended following reports of paralysis. …
The age for routine vaccination with MMR vaccine was changed from 12 months to 15 months
In 1976, because of evidence of increased vaccine efficacy at older ages, the recommended age for vaccination was…
H1N1 outbreak at Fort Dix lead to a vaccination program to prevent a pandemic
In 1976, An H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak among recruits at Fort Dix leads to a vaccination program to…
Biology | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | Polio | Vaccine | WHO
The World Health Assembly created the Expanded Programme on Immunization to bring vaccines to the world’s children
In 1975, The World Health Assembly passed a resolution to create the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) to…
The first monovalent (group C) meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Merck) was licensed
On Apr. 2, 1974, the first monovalent (group C) meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Merck) was licensed.
Life Science History | Polio | Vaccine | WHO
The Expanded Programme on Immunization was created within WHO
In 1974, the Expanded Programme on Immunization was created within WHO, in response to poor immunization levels in…
Measles and mumps virus vaccine, live (M-M-Vax by Merck) was licensed
On Jul. 18, 1973, the measles and mumps virus vaccine, live (M-M-Vax by Merck) was licensed. Measles (rubeola)…
The Wistar Institute was designated a National Cancer Institute Cancer Center
In 1972, The Wistar Institute was designated a National Cancer Institute Cancer Center in basic researchï¾—a distinction it…
Combined measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine were licensed
On Apr. 22, 1971, Combined measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR by Merck) as well as combined measles…
H3N2 viruses were first identified in swine
In 1970, influenza H3N2 viruses were first identified in swine during an influenza surveillance study in Taiwan. This…
Max Delbruck was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine
In 1969, Max Delbruck of the California Institute of Technology was awarded the 1969 Nobel Prize in Physiology…
The CDC began a national rubella immunization campaign
In 1969, live, attenuated rubella vaccines were first licensed in the U.S., and a vaccination program was established…
A second live, further attenuated measles virus vaccine was licensed
On Nov. 26, 1968, a second live, further attenuated measles virus vaccine (Attenuvax by Merck, based on the…