The Royal Jab

Culture Positive: An Infection Prevention Podcast · Nov 3, 2026 · 17m · transcript

In this episode of Culture Positive, we're traveling back to 18th-century Russia to meet Catherine the Great and explore her surprising role in the history of immunization. From the devastating impact of smallpox to the global origins of variolation, we follow the evolution of an early method of smallpox prevention across continents and generations. We'll also explore the journey from variolation to modern vaccination and the incredible public health achievement of smallpox eradication. Because sometimes, the history of infection prevention starts with an empress willing to lead by example!…