Which disease was effectively combated using a vaccine, leading to the first vaccination?

The disease that was effectively combated using a vaccine, leading to the first vaccination, is smallpox. Edward Jenner is credited with developing the first successful smallpox vaccine in 1796, which utilized material taken from cowpox lesions to create immunity to smallpox. This groundbreaking work marked the beginning of vaccination as a method of disease prevention, ultimately leading to the worldwide eradication of smallpox in 1980.

The smallpox vaccine was crucial because it was the first time a disease was prevented through vaccination, demonstrating the potential for vaccines to control viral infections. Smallpox was responsible for millions of deaths before vaccination efforts were implemented, highlighting the significance of Jenner's discovery in public health history. The success of the smallpox vaccine paved the way for immunization strategies against other infectious diseases, establishing vaccination as a key tool in public health.