VACCINE REVOLT

The Vaccine Revolt occurred in 1904 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, in those days, the city CArioca suffered with several epidemics caused by poor hygiene and poor sanitary conditions in the Brazilian capital. As a measure against diseases such as smallpox, plague and yellow fever, was established by President Rodrigues Alves mandatory vaccination, then the head of the National Department of Public Health, was the sanitarian Oswaldo Cruz.


The people revolted against compulsory vaccination and promoted popular riots and vandalism of public property in protest. The president was not deterred and went ahead with the vaccination program by force. But on 16 November 1904 and the president repealed the law mandating the vaccine, fearing the worst consequences brought on by a civil war as the evils of an epidemic. (Scribe Valdemir Mota de Menezes)