Typhoid Vaccine History: Who Discovered It & When?

The first typhoid vaccine was developed in 1896 by Almroth Edward Wright, a British bacteriologist and immunologist. His heat-inactivated whole-cell vaccine laid the foundation for modern typhoid immunization.

Milestones

• 1896: Wright’s first vaccine tested on soldiers.
• World War I: Mass vaccination of troops reduced typhoid dramatically.
• Later developments: Polysaccharide (Vi) vaccine (1970s), conjugate vaccines (1990s–2000s) with better efficacy and pediatric use.

Wright’s work pioneered bacterial vaccine development and influenced future immunology research.