The efforts made to eradicate smallpox were cost-effective given the high morbidity and mortality associated with smallpox.

Since there is no available antiviral treatment for smallpox, the vaccine is the only potential cost.^[1]

In the past, the development and distribution of the bifurcated needle represented one of the costs. This needle improved the ease and diminished the cost of vaccination. About 1,000 needles cost about $5. The needle could be boiled and reused multiple times. Also, since these needles required a smaller amount of vaccine, each vial with the vaccine could now vaccinate 4 times as many people. This was an important achievement since there were certain countries that could not afford any sort of vaccination above a very minimal cost.