The royal philanthropic vaccine expedition to the Americas: a historical, cultural, and ethical perspective

Authors

Keywords:

vaccination; smallpox; history of medicine; public health; bioethics; culture

Abstract

Introduction: The first vaccination in the Americas was a pivotal event in the history of preventive medicine and public health. Objective: To analyze the Royal Philanthropic Vaccine Expedition (1803–1806) from historical, medical, cultural, and bioethical perspectives.
Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted, drawing on historical and biomedical sources regarding smallpox, the development of vaccination by Edward Jenner, and the expedition led by Francisco Javier Balmis.
Discussion: The study examined the epidemiological impact of smallpox in the Americas, the strategies used to preserve and transport vaccine material, and the sociocultural and ethical factors involved in its implementation.
Conclusions: The analysis revealed that this process represented not only a momentous scientific advancement but also a phenomenon shaped by cultural tensions, social inequalities, and ethical dilemmas—an understanding of which offers relevant lessons for contemporary medicine.

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Author Biographies

Annety Beatriz Aguilera Cruz, Eugenio Espejo Specialty Hospital, Quito. Ecuador

Neurology Specialist

Yasmany Fabian Rojas Meriño, Eugenio Espejo Specialty Hospital, Quito. Ecuador

Neurosurgery Specialist

Mireya Pérez Rodríguez, Eugenio Espejo Specialty Hospital, Quito. Ecuador

PhD in Physical Culture Sciences

References

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Published

2026-11-02

How to Cite

1.
Aguilera Cruz AB, Rojas Meriño YF, Pérez Rodríguez M. The royal philanthropic vaccine expedition to the Americas: a historical, cultural, and ethical perspective. Acta Méd Centro [Internet]. 2026 Nov. 2 [cited 2026 Nov. 3];20:e2450. Available from: https://revactamedicacentro.sld.cu/index.php/amc/article/view/2450

Issue

Vol. 20 (2026): PUBLICACIÓN CONTINUA

Section

Culture and Medicine

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Copyright (c) 2026 Annety Beatriz Aguilera Cruz, Yasmany Fabian Rojas Meriño, Mireya Pérez Rodríguez

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