Skip to main content

Military Health System

Gen. George Washington Ordered Smallpox Inoculations for All Troops

Image of Old photo of George Washington in battle. Old photo of George Washington in battle

Recommended Content:

Our History | Immunizations

In late 1776, as Gen. George Washington led his troops through the opening battles of the American Revolution, it was not necessarily the enemy fighters who posed the biggest risk to the fledgling U.S. Army.

An estimated 90% of deaths in the Continental Army were caused by disease, and the most vicious were variants of smallpox, according to the U.S. Library of Congress.

That's why Gen. Washington made the controversial decision to order the mass inoculation of his soldiers, an effort to combat spread of the disease that was at the time a major deterrent to enlistments and posed the risk of debilitating his army and tipping the balance of power against America's first warfighters.

According to the U.S. Library of Congress's Science, Technology, and Business Division, the smallpox inoculations began Jan. 6, 1777, for all of Washington's forces who came through the then-capital of Philadelphia, and through Morristown, New Jersey, following the Battle of Princeton.

Smallpox is a potentially fatal disease that starts with fever and vomiting and an outbreak of ulcers in the mouth and a skin rash. The skin rash turns into highly contagious fluid-filled blisters. The fatality rate was very high.

Inoculations were far more primitive - and dangerous - than today's vaccinations. The most common method was to cut a person's skin and rub the minor incision with a thread or cloth contaminated with a less-virulent version of smallpox, which in this case was a strain known as "variola."

At the time, most English troops were immune to variola, and their immunity gave them an "enormous advantage against the vulnerable colonists," according to the library. By contrast, less than a quarter of the American colonial troops had ever had the virus.

Washington knew a mass inoculation campaign could backfire and might cause more disease than it prevented. He also feared the mandatory inoculations would harm recruitment.

Nevertheless, after weighing the odds, Washington informed Congress on Feb. 5, 1777, of his plans for a mass inoculation. The general's plans contraindicated a 1776 proclamation by the Continental Congress prohibiting inoculations.

A Feb. 6 letter to Dr. William Shippen from Washington states: "Finding the smallpox to be spreading much and fearing that no precaution can prevent it from running through the whole of our Army, I have determined that the troops shall be inoculated. This expedient may be attended with some inconvenience and some disadvantages but yet I trust its consequences will have the most happy effects. Necessity not only authorizes but seems to require the measure, for should the disorder infect the Army in the natural way and rage with its usual virulence, we have more to dread from it than from the sword of the enemy."

Throughout February, the inoculations across the entire force were carried out in the model of the initial efforts in Morristown and Philadelphia.

Washington's strategy was largely successful.

"The isolated infections that sprung up among Continental regulars during the southern campaign failed to incapacitate a single regiment," the Library reported.

You can read more on the first mass military inoculation at the Library of Congress's Science section.

You also may be interested in...

Kunsan Healthcare Operations Squadron Immunizations Flight Delivers Vaccines

Article Around MHS
12/8/2022
Military medical personnel immunizing a Soldier

The 8th Healthcare Operations Squadron immunizations flight is full of experts on delivering injections and ensuring our Kunsan Airmen always stay ready. “Immunizations maintains mission readiness by tracking and vaccinating members for preventable diseases,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Aidan Herring, 8th HCOS allergy and immunology technician.

Recommended Content:

Immunization Tracking Systems | Immunization Tool Kit | Immunizations | Vaccine-Preventable Diseases | Seasonal Influenza Resource Center 2022-23

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Visiting Nurse Program Celebrates 100 Years

Article Around MHS
12/2/2022
Shannon Williams, visiting nurse for Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society

The Visiting Nurse Program of Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) organization provides specialized care to the communities they serve around the world. Founded on November 25, 1922 when Nell Watson was hired as the first visiting nurse at the Parris Island Branch Auxiliary, the program celebrated its centennial anniversary Nov. 25, 2022.

Recommended Content:

Nursing in the Military Health System | Our History

The “Human Bomb”: How Air Force Surgeons Made Medical History in Vietnam

Article Around MHS
11/29/2022
U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. James Humphreys

On November 5, 1965, Air Force surgeons were confronted with a bomb, literally. But instead of coming face-to-face with a device, they were confronted with a patient who had a live grenade embedded in his back, essentially making the patient a walking human bomb.

Recommended Content:

Our History

Naval Medical Research Center Clinical Trials Center Seeks Volunteers yet to Receive Flu Shot for Immune Response Study

Article Around MHS
11/23/2022
Military medical personnel during vaccine study

Naval Medical Research Center’s clinical trials center is looking for 200 volunteer test subjects for a new clinical study that investigates the immune response to seasonal flu vaccination.

Recommended Content:

Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Toolkit | Immunizations | National Immunization Awareness Month 2022 | Continuous Quality Immunization Improvement Process and Virtual Continuous Quality Immunization Improvement Process

History of Navy Medicine's Research and Development Global Enterprise

Article Around MHS
11/2/2022
Historic image of the Naval Medical Research Institute

Before there was the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) there was the Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI).

Recommended Content:

Our History | Research & Innovation

Get Protected With New COVID-19 Booster and Flu Vaccine

Article Around MHS
10/24/2022
Military medical personnel administering vaccine

There are two vaccines you should consider getting this Fall, and now you can get them both at the same time.

Recommended Content:

Immunizations | COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts | Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Toolkit | Coronavirus and the COVID-19 Vaccine

Born in Harm's Way: The Advent of Navy Medicine in the Revolutionary War

Article Around MHS
10/21/2022
The Bonhomme Richard vs. HMS Serapis infographic

The U.S. Navy recognized Oct. 13 as its official birthdate. It was on this day in 1775 that the Continental Congress authorized the construction of the first Navy ships as well as a special committee to oversee the administration of this service.

Recommended Content:

Our History

Time to Get Your Flu Shot and Your COVID-19 Booster, Too

Article
10/14/2022
Senior MHS officials and medics from the Pentagon stand together Oct. 13 after receiving their flu shots and bivalent COVID-19 boosters.."

It's flu shot time. Get your COVID-19 booster at the same time.

Recommended Content:

Coronavirus & the MHS Response | COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts | Coronavirus and the COVID-19 Vaccine | Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Toolkit | Immunizations | Coronavirus

Prevent the Spread of Influenza and COVID-19 Viruses Within Your Community

Article
10/11/2022
A person getting an injection on their arm.

As families return from summer vacation and students return to school, the influenza (flu) season is approaching while the COVID-19 pandemic is still on-going.

Recommended Content:

Coronavirus & the MHS Response | COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts | Immunizations | Coronavirus and the COVID-19 Vaccine | Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Toolkit

Get Your Flu Shot

Video
10/4/2022
Military personnel giving the flu shot

Rear Adm. Brandon L. Taylor, Director of DHA Public Health, discusses how vaccines greatly reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death. "An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure." Lets us join Rear Adm. Taylor this year to get informed on how vaccines can minimize the dangers of flu.

Recommended Content:

Public Health | Immunizations | Immunization Healthcare Division | Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Toolkit

Dedicated Korean War Navy Medic Worked “Feverishly” to Save Lives

Article
9/22/2022
Profile photo of a sailor

U.S. Navy Hospitalman Francis Hammond was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor for selflessly saving lives and risking his own during the Korean War.

Recommended Content:

Our History

DHA Form 116: Pediatric and Adult Influenza Screening and Immunization Documentation

Form/Template
9/14/2022

A form for screening both children and adults for contraindications to receiving influenza vaccine. (v3, September 2022)

Recommended Content:

Immunizations | Influenza, Northern Hemisphere | Influenza, Southern Hemisphere

Ramstein Now Offers Novavax Vaccine

Article Around MHS
9/8/2022
Military medical gives Soldier a COVID-19 vaccine

The 86th Medical Group is now offering the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, which has been authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to members 18 years and older in the Kaiserslautern Military Community.

Recommended Content:

Immunization Healthcare Division | COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts | Immunizations | Coronavirus

From a Small Twig Comes 75 Years of Medical Readiness

Article Around MHS
8/15/2022
Military personnel celebrating MSC milestone

For 75 years, the Navy Medical Service Corps has long been regarded as the most diverse corps, comprised of health care administrators, clinicians, and scientists.

Recommended Content:

Our History

Be Prepared with Back-to-School Immunizations

Video
7/28/2022
Child getting an immunization

Air Force Surgeon General Miller encourages parents to get their kids immunized before heading back to school in the fall.

Recommended Content:

Medical and Dental Preventive Care Fitness | Children's Health | Immunizations | Back to School
<< < 1 2 3 4 5  ... > >> 
Showing results 16 - 30 Page 2 of 8
Refine your search
Last Updated: January 25, 2023
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery