The bifurcated needle

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Who

Benjamin Rubin, an American Jewish microbiologist; the jet injector used in the same campaign was invented by Aaron Ismach, also Jewish

When

1965

Where

United States

Smallpox is the only human disease ever eradicated, and the tool that did it was a two-pronged steel needle costing a fraction of a cent. Benjamin Rubin ground the eye off a sewing-machine needle to leave a tiny fork that holds exactly one dose of vaccine by capillary action — no measuring, no syringe, usable by a health worker after a few minutes' training and boilable for reuse. Aaron Ismach's jet injector, the Ped-O-Jet, vaccinated crowds at speed in the same campaign. Both men were Jewish; Rubin assigned his patent royalties away. The last natural case was in 1977.

Sources

Part of “The Gifts of the Jews” — verified Jewish contributions to the world, with sources.