Do you have a small, round scar on your upper left arm? Many people do, and it’s from the smallpox vaccination given before the 1970s. The vaccination used live Vaccinia virus to protect against smallpox. After receiving the shot, blisters form at the injection site, which eventually heal and leave a circular scar,” explains the original article.
The vaccination process involved multiple needle piercings, creating visible scars. The injection site swells slightly for 6 to 8 hours, then returns to normal. After 6 to 8 weeks, a lump resembling a mosquito bite forms, turning into a tumor, and eventually an ulcer, leaving an irreversible scar.
Smallpox was eradicated in most of the Western world by the early 1970s, leading to the discontinuation of vaccinations unless traveling to high-risk areas. By the 1980s, smallpox vaccinations were completely halted when the Variola virus was no longer a threat. In summary, that small scar on your arm tells the story of a successful vaccination against a deadly disease, now a relic of a bygone era.
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