The Indian Vaccination Act is a US federal law was passed by the US United States Congress, Congress in 1832. The purpose of the act was to Vaccine, vaccinate the Native Americans in the United States, American Indians against smallpox to prevent the spread of the disease.

History

The act was first passed on May 5, 1832. Lewis Cass, United States Secretary of War, Secretary of War, designed the act. Members of Congress appropriated US$12,000 dollars (approximately $ in current money) to vaccinate them. By February 1, 1833, more than 17,000 Indians had been vaccinated. Congress allocated $12,000 for the entire program, to be administered by Indian agents and sub-agents. Some US army surgeons refused to participate due to the lack of funds, leaving agents themselves and others with no medical training to produce and administer vaccines.However, not everyone was included. As a result, a few years later, smallpox killed 90% of the Mandan, Mandan Indians, who had been excluded from the act. It also excluded Hidatsas and Arikaras.

References

{{reflist 1832 in American law Vaccination law Vaccination in the United States Smallpox in the United States Smallpox eradication Smallpox vaccines United States federal Native American legislation