When I was a child, I vividly recall being captivated by an unusual scar on my mother’s upper arm. It sat prominently near her shoulder, resembling a circle of tiny indentations surrounding a larger one.

Why this scar drew my attention all those years ago remains a mystery to me. Nevertheless, it left a lasting impression, even though, over time, its significance faded from my mind.

While I never truly forgot its presence, the intrigue of what had caused it eventually slipped from my memory. Maybe I once asked my mother about it, and she provided an explanation. If so, I can’t recall the details today.

All this resurfaced when I assisted an elderly lady off a train during one warm summer years ago. I couldn’t help but notice a similar mark on her arm, precisely in the same spot as my mother’s. My curiosity was reignited, but with the train’s imminent departure, I didn’t have the chance to inquire about her scar’s origin.

Later, I called my mother, and she reminded me that she had explained it before – my memory hadn’t retained the information. Her scar resulted from the well-known smallpox vaccine.

Smallpox was once a dreaded viral disease that plagued humanity. It caused severe rashes and fevers, and during the most severe outbreaks in the 20th century, it claimed the lives of about 30% of those infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many others were left with scars.

Fortunately, due to a widespread and effective vaccination campaign, the smallpox virus was declared eradicated in the United States in 1952. As a result, smallpox vaccinations were removed from routine vaccination schedules in 1972.

Before the early 1970s, children were routinely vaccinated against smallpox, a practice that left a noticeable mark. You might even consider it an early form of a vaccine passport, a visible assurance that one had been successfully immunized against smallpox.

Indeed, that’s the scar my mother has, as do countless others in her generation.

Understanding the Smallpox Vaccine Scar

The smallpox vaccine left scars due to the body’s natural healing mechanisms. Unlike many modern vaccines, this one was administered in a unique manner using a bifurcated needle.

During vaccination, multiple punctures were made in the skin – a departure from the single injection typical of today’s vaccines – allowing the vaccine to reach the dermis, beneath the skin’s surface.

Once administered, the virus began its work, proliferating and causing round bumps to form. These evolved into vesicles, small fluid-filled blisters, which eventually burst and scabbed over.

The outcome of this process is the characteristic scar we’re discussing today.

Do you have a smallpox vaccine scar? We’d love to hear your stories!