The smallpox vaccine, widely administered before the 1970s, has left a lasting mark on many people’s upper arms. This vaccine utilized the live Vaccinia virus to build immunity against the deadly Variola virus, responsible for smallpox.
The vaccination process involved a series of needle pricks that caused blisters, leading to temporary swelling and a lump resembling a mosquito bite. As the lump grew, it oozed fluid and eventually healed into a circular scar that remains to this day.
The smallpox vaccine’s effects may seem like a relic of the past, but they hold a fascinating story. The Vaccinia virus, used in the vaccine, triggered an immune response that protected against smallpox. Although the vaccine has been largely discontinued, its legacy lives on in the form of the distinctive scars it left behind.
