MISSION STATEMENT
To chronicle and educate the public on the historical contribution of vaccines and antibodies to human health and to explain the role of immunization in health care.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Eight out of 10 Internet users look for healthcare information on the Web. Sixteen percent of them are looking for information on vaccines and immunizations. No scientifically vetted site exists solely to present information on the history and technology of immunization.
PROJECT
The project is a new multimedia, interactive Web site. The Virtual Museum of Vaccines will provide the public with a reliable online source of information on the history and technology of immunization and honor pioneering scientists in the field. The Virtual Museum is designed to appeal to multiple audiences. Three specific groups are being targeted: educators and students, parents, and healthcare professionals. The Virtual Museum will combine a traditional Internet format with more innovative Web 2.0 components. Content will be determined and vetted by an advisory panel of internationally recognized medical, historical, and epidemiological experts.
EXPECTED RESULTS
We expect that the Virtual Museum of Vaccines will increase students', parents', and healthcare professionals' knowledge and understanding of the ways in which vaccines work, how they have been developed, and the role they have played in human health over the last few hundred years. We also expect to provide educators and healthcare professionals with materials to assist them in their work endeavors.
COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS' INVESTMENT
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia is developing the site as one of its community education programs and as a complementary source of information to their community healthcare site. The College invests its reputation as a fair, reliable, and relentlessly neutral source of healthcare information.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia is a cultural and educational institution, founded as a medical society in 1787 by the city's leading physicians, including Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Dr. John Morgan, the founder of the nation's first medical school. The College serves the professional health community and the general public through a mission that is dedicated to advancing the cause of health, while upholding the ideals and heritage of medicine. It has an honorary Fellowship of over 1,500 physicians, health-related professionals, and distinguished members of the community. The College is home to one of the foremost historical medical libraries in the world and to the renowned Mütter Museum, an anatomy and pathology museum. Public health outreach programs such as PhillyHealthInfo.org address the College's goal to enable individuals, families, and communities to take greater responsibility for their health. Each program of the College utilizes its assets and supports objectives that fulfill the goals of education and community service.
MORE INFORMATION
Why a Virtual Museum of Vaccines?
Increased controversy about vaccine safety together with the increased use of the Internet as a source of health information has resulted in a substantial need for accurate information on the Web regarding immunization. Eight in ten adults now go online for health information, and in 2006 16% of them had questions about vaccinations.1 A number of excellent sites present current medical recommendations regarding vaccinations and recommended timetables of administration (e.g., www.cdc.gov). However, few sites comprehensively document the history and technology of immunization and provide a scientific and historical context for the current recommendations.
The Question of the decade* One of the most highly respected popular books on the subject, by Robert Sears states that, "Should you vaccinate your child?" is "the question of the decade."2 Nevertheless, he does not attempt to discuss the history of infectious diseases and the development of vaccines in his book for fear of "information overload." This Virtual Museum will provide this information.
Adult vaccination rates
Increasingly, health officials have concerns that vaccination levels for adults in the United States are disturbingly low.3 As many as 70,000 adult Americans die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases, but only 2.1% of adults are immunized against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough. Increased education is required to raise awareness of the need for adult vaccination.
Increased public interest and awareness
Public interest in the history of vaccines has risen recently due to well-publicized controversies. The result is increasingly numerous new books being published on the subject.4 This trend suggests a need for additional information on the Internet about vaccines and their history. This site will recognize the serious concerns of many parents and others about vaccination and provide a forum for moderated discussion of the topic. Recent concerns about apparent reduced vaccination rates in children in some areas emphasize the continued need for accurate information.
A public health initiative The College of Physicians of Philadelphia proposes to satisfy this need for high-quality information by creating this Virtual Museum. This site aims to become the primary online source for reliable scientific information on the history and technology of immunization. All content will be determined and vetted by an internationally recognized group of medical, historical and epidemiological experts.
Goals
The goals of this project are outlined below. For more information about any aspect of the project, enter your request and e-mail on the contact page.
Goal 1. To enhance public understanding of the value of immunization for both adults and children
4 For example, Allen A (2008). Vaccine: The Controversial Story of Medicine's Greatest Lifesaver.
Link K (2005), The Vaccine Controversy: The History, Use, and Safety of Vaccinations.
Heller J (2008) The Vaccine Narrative. Vanderbilt University Press
Increased controversy about vaccine safety together with the increased use of the Internet as a source of health information has resulted in a substantial need for accurate information on the Web regarding immunization. Eight in ten adults now go online for health information, and in 2006 16% of them had questions about vaccinations.1 A number of excellent sites present current medical recommendations regarding vaccinations and recommended timetables of administration (e.g., www.cdc.gov). However, few sites comprehensively document the history and technology of immunization and provide a scientific and historical context for the current recommendations.
The Question of the decade* One of the most highly respected popular books on the subject, by Robert Sears states that, "Should you vaccinate your child?" is "the question of the decade."2 Nevertheless, he does not attempt to discuss the history of infectious diseases and the development of vaccines in his book for fear of "information overload." This Virtual Museum will provide this information.
Adult vaccination rates
Increasingly, health officials have concerns that vaccination levels for adults in the United States are disturbingly low.3 As many as 70,000 adult Americans die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases, but only 2.1% of adults are immunized against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough. Increased education is required to raise awareness of the need for adult vaccination.
Increased public interest and awareness
Public interest in the history of vaccines has risen recently due to well-publicized controversies. The result is increasingly numerous new books being published on the subject.4 This trend suggests a need for additional information on the Internet about vaccines and their history. This site will recognize the serious concerns of many parents and others about vaccination and provide a forum for moderated discussion of the topic. Recent concerns about apparent reduced vaccination rates in children in some areas emphasize the continued need for accurate information.
A public health initiative The College of Physicians of Philadelphia proposes to satisfy this need for high-quality information by creating this Virtual Museum. This site aims to become the primary online source for reliable scientific information on the history and technology of immunization. All content will be determined and vetted by an internationally recognized group of medical, historical and epidemiological experts.
Goals
The goals of this project are outlined below. For more information about any aspect of the project, enter your request and e-mail on the contact page.
Goal 1. To enhance public understanding of the value of immunization for both adults and children
- To promote interest in vaccinations
- To educate the public about how vaccinations work
- To inform the public regarding possible side-effects of vaccines and vaccination
- To promote interest in the history of vaccines
- To educate the public about the history of vaccines
- To honor pioneering scientists in the field
- To promote interest in vaccine research and development
- To promote interest in past, current, and future vaccine technologies
- To educate the public and healthcare professionals about vaccine technologies
- To promote an interest in vaccine teaching materials among teachers
- To provide online and downloadable materials about the history of vaccines and vaccine technology for educators
- To provide information regarding public controversies about vaccines
- To promote an interest in educational materials for patients among healthcare professionals
- To provide material for healthcare professionals to give to patients
4 For example, Allen A (2008). Vaccine: The Controversial Story of Medicine's Greatest Lifesaver.
Link K (2005), The Vaccine Controversy: The History, Use, and Safety of Vaccinations.
Heller J (2008) The Vaccine Narrative. Vanderbilt University Press
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, founded in 1787, is the oldest professional medical organization in the country. Twenty-four physicians of eighteenth-century Philadelphia gathered "to advance the science of medicine and to thereby lessen human misery." Today, over 1,500 Fellows (elected members) continue to convene at the College and work toward better serving the public.
Throughout its 200-year history, the College has provided a place for medical professionals and the general public to learn about medicine as both a science and as an art.
This historic spirit continues in our current mission: advancing the cause of health while upholding the ideals and heritage of medicine. The College strives to
The College is home to the Mütter Museum and the Historical Medical Library. Our outreach programs include PhillyHealthInfo.org, an online health information, resource, and educational program serving the Delaware Valley, and the C. Everett Koop Education Center. The public is invited to attend the many lectures, workshops, and conferences the College offers. Our programs reflect our reverence for the past, our commitment to the present, and our vision for the future of medicine and health.
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
19 South 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Visit Site
Throughout its 200-year history, the College has provided a place for medical professionals and the general public to learn about medicine as both a science and as an art.
This historic spirit continues in our current mission: advancing the cause of health while upholding the ideals and heritage of medicine. The College strives to
- Enable individuals, families, and communities to take greater responsibility for their health.
- Improve the health of the public through service to health professionals.
- Enhance appreciation of the heritage of medicine.
- Provide information for the development of health policy.
The College is home to the Mütter Museum and the Historical Medical Library. Our outreach programs include PhillyHealthInfo.org, an online health information, resource, and educational program serving the Delaware Valley, and the C. Everett Koop Education Center. The public is invited to attend the many lectures, workshops, and conferences the College offers. Our programs reflect our reverence for the past, our commitment to the present, and our vision for the future of medicine and health.
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
19 South 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Visit Site
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This policy was created on March 2008.
WHY DID YOU RECEIVE A MAILING FROM US?
Our email marketing is permission based. If you received a mailing from us, our records indicate that (a) you have expressly shared this address for the purpose of receiving information in the future ("opt-in"), or (b) you have registered or purchased or otherwise have an existing relationship with us. We respect your time and attention by controlling the frequency of our mailings.
HOW CAN YOU STOP RECEIVING EMAIL FROM US?
Each email contains instructions on how to be removed from our list. Please follow the instructions as stated.
HOW WE PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY
We use appropriate security measures to protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of data used by our system.
SHARING AND USAGE
We will never share, sell, or rent individual personal information with anyone for their promotional use without your advance permission or unless ordered by a court of law. Information submitted to us is only available to employees managing this information for purposes of contacting you or sending you emails based on your request for information, and to contracted service providers for purposes of providing services relating to our communications with you.
USE OF WEB BEACONS
When we send you emails, we may include a web beacon to allow us to determine the number of people who open our emails. When you click on a link in an email, we may record this individual response to allow us to customize our offerings to you. Web beacons collect only limited information, such as a cookie identifier, time and date of a page being viewed, and a description of the page on which the Web Beacon resides (the URL).
Web Beacons can be refused when delivered via email. If you do not wish to receive Web Beacons via email, you will need to disable HTML images or refuse HTML (select Text only) emails via your email software.
PRIVACY POLICY CHANGES
This policy was created on March 2008.
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THE CASUAL COW-POX ON THE TEATS AND UDDER OF A BLACK-AND-WHITE MILCH COW
The disease is at the acme; and the skin being fair, a slight areola is visible around some of the vesicles, many of which have a bluish central tint. It exhibits papulae, vesicles with central crusts, unacuminated and acuminated vesicles; imperfectly developed and also broken vesicles, both solitary and interfluent. Those vesicles on the extremities of the teats, it will be observed, are nearly of the colour of the skin on which they are placed--a circumstance of itself sufficient to distinguish them from spurious or sub-epidermic vesicles.
From Observations on the variole vaccinae as they occasionally appear in the Vale of Aylesbury, with an account of some recent experiments in the retro-vaccination, and variolation of cows; Interspersed with incidental remarks By Robert Ceely, Esq. 1840 (College of Physicians Historical Library Call number DK 283)
The disease is at the acme; and the skin being fair, a slight areola is visible around some of the vesicles, many of which have a bluish central tint. It exhibits papulae, vesicles with central crusts, unacuminated and acuminated vesicles; imperfectly developed and also broken vesicles, both solitary and interfluent. Those vesicles on the extremities of the teats, it will be observed, are nearly of the colour of the skin on which they are placed--a circumstance of itself sufficient to distinguish them from spurious or sub-epidermic vesicles.
From Observations on the variole vaccinae as they occasionally appear in the Vale of Aylesbury, with an account of some recent experiments in the retro-vaccination, and variolation of cows; Interspersed with incidental remarks By Robert Ceely, Esq. 1840 (College of Physicians Historical Library Call number DK 283)
WAX MODELS, CA. 1850-1920
© 1993 Arne Svenson
Top, left to right: Recklinghausen's disease of breast; active erysipelas; gangrenous ulceration of lip and nares; rupia (tertiary syphilis). Bottom, left to right: arms of infants: vaccinia (cowpox), sixth to eighth day; ninth to tenth day; fourteenth to sixteenth day; roseola varicella (chickenpox).
(On deposit from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, except the model of breast, from the Mütter Museum collection. From Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia by Gretchen Worden. Published by Blast Books)
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© 1993 Arne Svenson
Top, left to right: Recklinghausen's disease of breast; active erysipelas; gangrenous ulceration of lip and nares; rupia (tertiary syphilis). Bottom, left to right: arms of infants: vaccinia (cowpox), sixth to eighth day; ninth to tenth day; fourteenth to sixteenth day; roseola varicella (chickenpox).
(On deposit from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, except the model of breast, from the Mütter Museum collection. From Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia by Gretchen Worden. Published by Blast Books)
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LA VACCINE EN VOYAGE, 1799
A scene depicting the rivalry between Dindonnade, the turkey serum, and the cow vaccine in satire. Line, in color; rectangular 15.5 x 20.6cm (Historical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Sturgis Collection M-20-VI)
A scene depicting the rivalry between Dindonnade, the turkey serum, and the cow vaccine in satire. Line, in color; rectangular 15.5 x 20.6cm (Historical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Sturgis Collection M-20-VI)
THE COW-POCK - OR - THE WONDERFUL EFFECTS OF THE NEW INOCULATION!, 1802
James Gillray, 1757-1815
Shows Jenner about to vaccine woman seated in chair; assistant holds crock labeled "Vaccine Pock hot from ye cow"; men and women about with small cows erupting from arms, legs, noses, etc. Line, in color; rectangular. 12.5 x 18cm (Historical library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Sturgis Collection M-21-p37, Facsimile)
James Gillray, 1757-1815
Shows Jenner about to vaccine woman seated in chair; assistant holds crock labeled "Vaccine Pock hot from ye cow"; men and women about with small cows erupting from arms, legs, noses, etc. Line, in color; rectangular. 12.5 x 18cm (Historical library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Sturgis Collection M-21-p37, Facsimile)
SMALLPOX AFTER PERFECT VACCINATION (MONRO), 1889
From E.M. Crookshank's History and Pathology of Vaccination Volume 1: A Critical Inquiry (College of Physicians Historical Library Call number DK 112)
From E.M. Crookshank's History and Pathology of Vaccination Volume 1: A Critical Inquiry (College of Physicians Historical Library Call number DK 112)
