what was the first vaccine
All Timelines Overview. The story of vaccines did not begin with the first vaccineâEdward Jennerâs use of material from cowpox pustules to provide protection against smallpox.Rather, it begins with the long history of infectious disease in humans, and in particular, with early uses of smallpox material to provide immunity to that disease.he middle of the 20 th century was an active time for vaccine research and development. Methods for growing viruses in the laboratory led to rapid discoveries and innovations, including the creation of vaccines for polio.