In 1896, Waldemar Haffkine developed the first effective cholera vaccine, which was tested in India amid ongoing pandemics. This groundbreaking achievement marked a significant advancement in public health and immunology, providing a means to combat one of the deadliest diseases of the time. Haffkine's work laid the foundation for modern vaccine development and highlighted the importance of scientific research in addressing global health crises.

Milestones in cholera vaccine development in 1896 contributed to colonial and postcolonial literature, examining themes of medicine, empire, and public health. Poets began to address the implications of scientific advancements on society and the human condition in their works.