[Vaccines outside of Europe. Light and shadow of a victory].

In the beginning of the 19th century, vaccination against smallpox spread rapidly in Europe and out of Europe. Although most statesmen eagerly adopted the vaccine, populations displayed mixed attitudes, ranging from mild enthusiasm to resistance. The article illustrates the social response with examples drawn from Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt and Brazil. This analysis puts in sharp focus the crucial importance of a factor for the managers of public health: the adhesion of populations.