Variolation was used in ancient China to immunise a person against smallpox. Photo: Handout Variolation was used in ancient China to immunise a person against smallpox. Photo: Handout
Variolation was used in ancient China to immunise a person against smallpox. Photo: Handout
Wee Kek Koon
Opinion

Opinion

Reflections by Wee Kek Koon

Powdered pus up the nose and other Chinese precursors to vaccinations

By the Ming dynasty, ‘variolation’ was being used to immunise against smallpox, often quite successfully

Wee Kek Koon
Wee Kek Koon

Updated: 9:11am, 6 Apr, 2020

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Variolation was used in ancient China to immunise a person against smallpox. Photo: Handout Variolation was used in ancient China to immunise a person against smallpox. Photo: Handout
Variolation was used in ancient China to immunise a person against smallpox. Photo: Handout
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