The Trojan Horse Mass Vaccination of the 1970s: A Revolutionary Move in Public Health

As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of mass vaccination in curbing the spread of infectious diseases has come to the forefront. However, mass vaccination programs are not a new concept. In the 1970s, a landmark mass vaccination campaign known as the Trojan Horse was carried out in Bangladesh, a country then known as East Pakistan. This vaccination program was a groundbreaking move in public health, as it sought to prevent the spread of smallpox, which had ravaged the country for decades.

The Trojan Horse Mass Vaccination campaign was unique in that it involved a double-blind approach to administering the vaccine. The term “Trojan Horse” referred to the method of administration, in which a group of vaccinators visited a remote village, and along with administering the smallpox vaccine, they also offered a gift of food or clothing. This gift was intended to increase the likelihood of the villagers accepting the vaccine, as they perceived the gift as a sign of goodwill.

The campaign was also unique in that it involved a double-blind approach, which meant that neither the vaccinators nor the recipients knew who was receiving the actual vaccine and who was receiving a placebo. This approach was intended to eliminate any potential bias or…