What was one major consequence of the introduction of the smallpox vaccine?

The introduction of the smallpox vaccine had a transformative impact on public health, leading to a significant reduction in smallpox cases and ultimately resulting in the eradication of the disease. Edward Jenner's pioneering work in the late 18th century provided a means to immunize individuals against smallpox, which had been a devastating disease for centuries.

As vaccination programs expanded, the incidence of smallpox dropped dramatically across the globe. The World Health Organization launched a successful global smallpox eradication campaign in the 20th century, which culminated in the declaration of smallpox as the first disease to be eradicated from the human population in 1980. This monumental achievement underscores the effectiveness of the smallpox vaccine and illustrates how vaccination can control and eliminate infectious diseases, making it one of the key milestones in the history of medicine.

In contrast, the other options, such as an increase in surgical success rates, the establishment of germ theory, and the development of antibiotics, relate to different advancements in medical science that were significant but did not directly stem from the introduction of the smallpox vaccine.