Who is credited with performing the first vaccination?

Edward Jenner is credited with performing the first vaccination, which is significant in the history of medicine. In 1796, he discovered that cowpox, a disease that affected cows, could provide immunity to smallpox, a highly contagious and deadly disease in humans. Jenner took material from a cowpox sore and inoculated a young boy. Subsequently, when the boy was exposed to smallpox, he did not contract the disease, demonstrating the effectiveness of vaccination. This pioneering work laid the foundation for immunology and the practice of vaccination, ultimately leading to the control and eradication of smallpox. Jenner's methods and research set the stage for modern vaccination techniques and public health initiatives.