In this ‘did you know’ article, we examine the history of vaccinations in Canada
A great place to start is a quick look at early vaccination efforts. I would recommend my article from 2019 on the scourge of communicable disease in early York County as a companion piece (Disease Was Scourge Of Newmarket In Days Of Wells, Outhouses | The History Hound Presents.
Before modern vaccines, it was common practice to protect children by rubbing scabs/pus from infected individuals with mild cases of the disease into open wounds on the skin. In the late 1800s, European and American labs made major advances in disease prevention, producing antitoxins for illnesses like tetanus and diphtheria. In 1885, Alexander Stewart of Palmerston founded the Ontario Vaccine Farm following a deadly smallpox outbreak in Montreal that spread into eastern Ontario.
A watershed moment here in Ontario was the establishment of Connaught Laboratories at the University of Toronto. In 1914, Dr. John G. FitzGerald set up a small horse stable to produce diphtheria antitoxin, which later became the Antitoxin Laboratory at the University of Toronto.
Over the next 58 years, the lab underwent several name changes (Connaught Antitoxin Laboratories, Connaught Laboratories, Connaught Medical Research Laboratories) before being privatized in 1972. Connaught Laboratories specialized in public health and preventative medicines, including antitoxins, vaccines, and insulin.
The primary focus of our vaccine efforts was combating childhood disease. The development of vaccines against diseases such as diphtheria, polio, mumps and measles significantly lowered death rates.
In the late 1970s, a spike in measles cases pushed many Canadian provinces to enact mandatory vaccination policies in public schools. The two-dose measles vaccination policy was adopted in the 1990s, reducing outbreaks through mass immunization efforts.
I think that most people are best aware of the influenza and polio vaccines that became available. In 1918, the Spanish flu pandemic claimed 50 million lives worldwide. Connaught Antitoxin Laboratories tested and distributed an experimental vaccine, though it ultimately proved ineffective.
The 1918 pandemic highlighted the need for coordinated public health efforts, leading to the creation of the federal Department of Health in 1919.
Dr. Jonas Salk developed the first polio vaccine in 1951. Connaught Medical Research Laboratories collaborated with Salk on large-scale trials between 1954 and 1955. I wrote articles for Newmarket Today’s Remember This on the topics of Polio, and the Spanish Flu.
Today, vaccines remain the most effective evidence-based preventive medicine tools to protect individuals and communities from infectious diseases. Canada has played a significant role in the development and production of life-saving vaccines throughout history.
I realize that there is a surge of concern over the usefulness and effectiveness of vaccines, but I am concerned with the historical aspect and not with arguing for or against the view points currently circulating.
I have detailed below two of the more interesting questions that arose out of my research for my articles on disease and vaccine development. I highly recommend the two kinks I have provided below for addition information.
I think that it is important examine how Edward Jenner’s discovery impact vaccination practices in Canada.
Edward Jenner’s pioneering work in the late 18th century, particularly his development of the smallpox vaccine, marked a transformative moment in medical history.
The discovery of vaccination by Edward Jenner in the late 18th century represents a watershed moment in the history of medicine and public health. Prior to Jenner’s groundbreaking work, smallpox was a pervasive and devastating disease that caused significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The development of the smallpox vaccine not only transformed the approach to combating infectious diseases but also laid the groundwork for the modern field of immunology.
While I will not go into a broad bio of Doctor Jenner, I think that a brief refresher is appropriate.
Edward Jenner, a country physician with keen observational skills, noticed that milkmaids who had contracted cowpox, a less severe disease caused by the cowpox virus, seemed to be immune to smallpox. This observation led Jenner to hypothesize that cowpox could be used to confer immunity against smallpox. In 1796, Jenner conducted a landmark experiment in which he inoculated a young boy, James Phipps, with material taken from a cowpox lesion. Subsequently, when Phipps was exposed to smallpox, he did not develop the disease. This experiment demonstrated that cowpox could indeed provide protection against smallpox and established the basis for vaccination
The second topic which seems within the purview of this article concerns the role played by the Connaught Laboratories in the development of vaccines in Canada.
Connaught Laboratories was one of the most important institutions in Canadian vaccine history. Founded in Toronto in 1914 by Dr. John G. FitzGerald, its mission was to make lifesaving vaccines and biological products available to Canadians at affordable prices.
Its contributions included:
1. Fighting Diphtheria
Connaught was originally established to produce diphtheria antitoxin, at a time when diphtheria was one of the leading causes of death among children in Canada. The laboratory later conducted major field trials of diphtheria toxoid, helping prove the effectiveness of vaccination against the disease.
2. Developing and Improving Vaccines
Over the following decades, Connaught became a national centre for vaccine research and production. It developed and improved vaccines for:
- Diphtheria
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Tetanus
- Smallpox
- Rabies
- Tuberculosis testing and prevention programs
Its work often established new international standards for vaccine quality and production.
3. Making the Polio Vaccine Possible
Perhaps Connaught’s greatest achievement was its role in the fight against polio. In the early 1950s, scientists at Connaught developed technologies and cell-culture methods that enabled Jonas Salk’s inactivated polio vaccine to be produced safely and on a massive scale. The laboratory supplied materials and expertise for the enormous 1954 field trials in the United States.
After problems arose with vaccine production at Cutter Laboratories in California, Connaught helped restore public confidence by providing high-quality vaccine and improving manufacturing standards
4. Supporting Public Health During Wartime
During both World Wars, Connaught produced vaccines and antitoxins for military and civilian use, including tetanus and typhus vaccines. It also became involved in producing penicillin during the Second World War.
5. Creating Canada’s Vaccine Industry
Connaught was unique because it operated as a public-service laboratory linked to the University of Toronto rather than as a purely commercial enterprise. This model helped Canada become internationally recognized in vaccine research, production, and public health innovation.
For residents of York Region and Newmarket, Connaught’s history has a local dimension. Its expansion during World War I included a large farm (Ontario Vaccine Farm) and production facilities north of Toronto, along what is now the Steeles Avenue corridor. This site became one of Canada’s most important centres for vaccine production throughout much of the 20th century.
In short, Connaught Laboratories helped transform Canada from an importer of vaccines into a world leader in vaccine research and manufacturing, with its most famous contribution being its central role in the development and mass production of the polio vaccine.
Finally, I would suggest that you read my article on Smallpox and Canada’s roll in vaccine development! (Our Battle With COVID-19 Recalls Deadly Polio Epidemic | The History Hound Presents).
A heavy topic, I know but one we in Canada should take a great deal of pride in proclaiming!
Check out the recommended links.
Be well!
The History Hound
