And yes, you guessed it, that very scar is what my mother has (just like nearly everyone else in her age group).
So, why did the smallpox vaccine leave a scar?
The scarring from the smallpox vaccine was a result of the body’s healing process. The vaccine was administered in a unique manner compared to many vaccines used today, utilizing a special two-pronged needle.
Smallpox scar. Credit / Shutterstock
The individual giving the vaccine performed several punctures in the skin (instead of the single one typically associated with modern vaccines) to inject the vaccine into the dermis (the layer beneath the epidermis).
The virus contained in the vaccine then began to replicate, leading to the formation of round bumps. These bumps eventually turned into vesicles (small blisters filled with fluid), which would later burst and form scabs over time.
This process results in the well-known scar we’ve mentioned in this article.
Do you have a scar from the smallpox vaccine? Share your experience in the comments!
