Machiaki Takahashi created the first chickenpox vaccine in 1974. Photo: Google
Machiaki Takahashi is a name perhaps many might not know as science is not really something that everyone can understand. But, surely, one can be grateful for the work behind the chickenpox vaccine.
A few centuries ago, a virus like chickenpox was very severe. This could actually cause a large number of deaths among children. When Machiaki Takahashi found that his son had chickenpox, he saw the urgency behind finding a cure for it.
Thursday’s Google Doodle honors all the knowledge behind the chickenpox vaccine. And is dedicated to Machiaki Takahashi who would have been 94-years-old on the 17th of February.
As the Dr’s son contracted the chickenpox virus from a playmate, the virus appeared on his face first. This is before moving onto the rest of the body. Machiaki Takahashi was lucky enough to see his son recover from the virus.
But, since Machiaki Takahashi was studying measles and polioviruses in Japan, he thought it an obligation to create a vaccine. It was first created in the year 1974 and would then be distributed all over the world to help children with the chickenpox virus.
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While all vaccines don’t prevent one from becoming sick completely, there is a much better chance that milder symptoms will appear if you happen to get sick. The same goes for the chickenpox virus and luckily, a vaccine is able to go around before it actually appears on the body.
According to CNET, after five years of working on making a chickenpox vaccine, his vaccine was soon ready for clinical trials. He created the vaccine by working with live but weakened versions of the virus in animal and human cells.