The 1721 Smallpox outbreak: the world’s first 'anti-vax' backlash

View of Boston 1720-1740, J Carwitham | Public Domain

By Beth Roberts

Inoculation was introduced to Boston in 1721 during a deadly outbreak of smallpox but led to fierce resistance even among the medical community.

On 22 April 1721, a British ship, the HMS Seahorse, docked in the busy harbour of Boston, Massachusetts.¹