1898 Regulation of Vaccine Supply Increases

Timelines — History of Vaccines

The Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

This invitation to an inspection of the vaccine farms of Dr. H. M. Alexander illustrates the emerging regulation of vaccine production. Page 1.

1898

Regulation of Vaccine Supply Increases

As smallpox rates declined, the apparent need for vaccination was less pressing, and the occasional adverse reactions to vaccination became more visible. At the same time, developments such as the addition of glycerin to vaccine lymph, the increasing regulation of pharmaceutical suppliers, and the advancements of microbiology led to the generally increasing safety of the vaccine supply.

A Pennsylvania commission reporting on inspections wrote:

“This [Inspection of Vaccine Propagating Establishments] included a personal inspection of each plant…and a bacteriological examination of the points produced at each place. These points were purchased in open market. The matters investigated were location, size, number and construction of buildings, arrangements for cleanliness, character of animals, mode of operation and of taking of lymph, modes of preparation of virus, precautions taken in packing and bacteriological control. Fourteen of these establishments were visited and the inspectors were uniformly received with courtesy. Of these, four are located in this State. It is somewhat humiliating to find that three of these are not conducted with such regard to hygienic precautions or even to ordinary cleanliness, as to warrant the Board in expressing anything but condemnation of the establishments themselves and of the methods pursued therein. On the other hand it is gratifying to our State pride to be able to point to the fourth as admirable in all its appointments and conducted with the strictest observance of modern surgical asepsis. The establishment referred to is known as the Lancaster County Vaccine Farms, at Marietta, Dr. H. M. Alexander & Co., Proprietors."

— Twelfth Annual Report of the State Board of Health and Vital Statistics of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, vol. 1 (1896)

H.M. Alexander & Company's facilities in Marietta, Pennsylvania, were eventually acquired by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and played an important role in global smallpox eradication.18