Vaccination and public health: the role of health units in diphtheria control in Chile (1943-1952)

Abstract

This article analyzes the experiences of diphtheria and mixed vaccination implemented in Chilean health units during the 1940s. It shows how these limited-scale campaigns enabled the assessment of the effectiveness of newly developed foreign vaccines and their potential nationwide application. The article argues that these were not merely technical procedures based on scientific findings, but initiatives framed within the broader project of social and preventive medicine, involving multidisciplinary teams and community engagement. It concludes that such experiences not only facilitated the testing of vaccine preparations but also laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Chilean National Health Service, founded on the principles of decentralization, operational coordination, and citizen participation.