At the beginning of this century the compulsory vaccination and revaccination 
which was legally founded after the introduction of the vaccination by Jenner 
(1796) led to the removal of the smallpox in Europe and Northern America. 
However, up to the sixties in the developing countries of Asia, Africa as well 
as of Southern America and Middle America still fell ill and died of small-pox 
millions of people. Between 1953 and 1973 importations into countries of Europe 
and Northern America took place in 51 cases. In 1959 on the motion of the USSR 
the WHO decided performance of a world-wide eradication programme of small-pox 
which could be led to success with comprehensive personal, material and 
financial support of many countries. Flanking scientific, technological and 
methodical measures were of essential importance. In May 1980 the World Health 
Assembly in Geneva announced in solemn form the world-wide eradication of the 
small-pox and gave recommendations to the member countries for concluding 
measures concerning the small-pox vaccination, the foundation of vaccine 
reserves and the control of the epidemiological situation in the world. Also in 
the GDR the small-pox vaccination in childhood could be abolished.