Intriguingly, the eradication effort also involved navigating political obstacles and ensuring vaccine delivery to the most remote corners of the world, proving that collective action can overcome daunting challenges. This book offers a comprehensive account, beginning with a stark portrayal of the world before eradication, detailing the disease's pervasive impact.
Progressing chronologically, it examines the evolution of vaccination techniques, the formation of the WHO's Smallpox Eradication Programme, and the implementation of mass vaccination campaigns. Smallpox Defeat employs a fact-based approach, avoiding sensationalism while presenting a balanced assessment of the program's successes and limitations, making it a valuable resource for understanding how global cooperation can solve complex public health issues and provide a framework for responding to future pandemics.