National immunization program: vaccination, compliance and pharmacovigilance.

In Brazil, more than two centuries have passed since the first time (1804) the vaccine was administered as a control measure to prevent smallpox. Exactly a century later (1904), an epidemic of this disease led the President of the Republic Rodrigues Alves, to establish the obligation of the vaccination. In the same year, the hygienist Osvaldo Cruz coordinated the mass vaccination of the Rio de Janeiro`s population in order to control the epidemic. This movement generated a historical episode known as “The Vaccine Revolt” characterized by population rebellion and rejection to the measure adopted, culminating in the suspension of mandatory vaccination.