The History of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases during the Ottoman Empire and the Republican Era: Project for the Creation of Source Documentation

The project aims to investigate and publish the history of vaccines and infectious diseases during the Ottoman Empire and the Republican Era, spanning from the 19th century to the late 20th century. This research is based on Ottoman and Republican-era documents from the Directorate of State Archives of the Presidency, as well as manuscripts and primary source books found in various national libraries. Through this study, a comprehensive source of documentation will be established regarding state vaccination practices and policies for controlling infectious diseases, as well as their evolution over time. Furthermore, the findings of the project are intended to contribute to modern scientific studies addressing contemporary challenges in vaccination practices and vaccine hesitancy.

The project will be conducted by the relevant personnel of the Vaccine Institute of Türkiye, in collaboration with faculty members and researchers from Hacettepe University, Faculty of Letters, Department of History, specifically from the Chair of Ottoman Institutions and Civilizations and the Chair of Modern History.