What is inoculation?
Q: What is inoculation?
A: Inoculation is an historical method of making people immune to smallpox.
Q: How does inoculation work differently from a vaccine?
A: Inoculation uses infected material (for example scabs) from an infected patient, whereas a vaccine uses a weakened or dead form of the virus.
Q: What benefit does inoculation have over being infected with smallpox naturally?
A: Inoculation gives the individual a less dangerous type of the virus, which means a lower risk of severe symptoms and death.
Q: What is the death rate of inoculation compared to smallpox?
A: The death rate of inoculation is between 0.5% - 2%, whereas the death rate of smallpox is 35%.
Q: Why was inoculation eventually replaced?
A: Inoculation was eventually replaced after Edward Jenner discovered a vaccine against smallpox.
Q: What type of material is used in inoculation?
A: Infected material (such as scabs) from an infected patient is used in inoculation.
Q: Is inoculation still used today?
A: No, inoculation is no longer used since a more effective and safer vaccine has been developed.
