Bistro Bookers
Join us on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 @ 4 p.m.
Book Title: : "America's First Vaccination" by Barbara Heifferon
Book Summary: This book explores the response to a new scientific advance in medicine three hundred years ago to understand how this discourse revealed religious, racial, anti-intellectual, and other ideologies the first time documented vaccinations were introduced in America. This text serves as a case study that examines the historic discourses surrounding the implementation of a new prevention technique, smallpox inoculation, to prevent the devastating epidemics of smallpox that had visited the new colonies since their start on the American continent. Using this detailed analysis of the arguments surrounding the project in early America, the author examines the various arguments that circulated in the 1720s regarding the project. When compared to today’s pandemic, this study argues that Americans over-react and complicate scientific applications not with logical scientific perspectives or even with ethical views, but instead bring exaggerated claims founded on uniquely American historical, religious, racial, territorial, and political ideologies. America’s First Vaccination will be of interest to anyone interested in American history, the history of medicine, cultural studies, and a comparison to current pandemic events.
Discussed By: Barbara Heifferon, the author
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024 @ 4pm
Venue:
Amherst Senior Center
370 John James Audubon Parkway
Amherst, NY 14228
You MUST reserve your seat by 3pm on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024 for this event by calling 716-636-3051 and providing your name and phone number. If you call to reserve for more than one person you must provide each person's name and phone number.
*Suggested donation of $2 per person is greatly appreciated. Your donation helps Bistro Bookers continue to hold these reviews and donate back to our community literacy programs. Your donation also allows us to purchase the reviewer’s book if necessary and give them a gift for their time.
**Masks are encouraged at this time. Please make sure to bring yours just in case.
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