Madison Clarke
Smallpox vaccination has left a mark on history and, quite literally, on the arms of those who received it. Smallpox was a highly contagious and disfiguring disease, fatal for about 30% of those infected. The smallpox vaccine, which hasn't been routinely administered in the US since the 1970s, used a bifurcated needle to create a small, controlled infection in the skin, causing an immune reaction that left a distinctive scar. This scar, usually on the upper left arm, is a testament to the success of the vaccine, which eradicated smallpox globally by 1980. While the smallpox vaccine is no longer needed, its mark remains, a reminder of a grand global achievement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the vaccine | Smallpox vaccine |
| Other names | Dryvax, ACAM2000, JYNNEOS, Imvamune, Imvanex |
| Disease prevented | Smallpox, Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox) |
| Administration technique | Puncture method |
| Needle used | Two-pronged or bifurcated needle |
| Age group | People over 40 years of age |
| Area of the scar | Upper left arm |
| Shape | Round or oval |
| Size | About the size of a dime |
| Appearance | Deeper than the surrounding skin with irregular edges |
| Formation | Scabbing and blistering |
| Itching | Yes |
| Discomfort | Yes |
| Inflammation | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Smallpox vaccine scars are rare today
The smallpox vaccine leaves a scar because it causes a minor, controlled infection in your skin. The vaccine uses a live variation of a virus called vaccinia, which is very similar to the variola virus that causes smallpox. When the human body encounters vaccinia, it builds up antibodies to fight off the variola virus. This immune response leads to the formation of a scab, which eventually falls off, leaving behind a small, distinctive scar. The scar is typically round or oval-shaped, about the size of a dime, and may appear deeper than the surrounding skin.
The smallpox vaccine was administered using a bifurcated needle with a multiple puncture technique. This technique caused a skin lesion, which turned into a pus-filled blister and scabbed within a few weeks. For most people, this resulted in a permanent depressed scar. However, the newer smallpox/mpox vaccine, JYNNEOS, does not lead to scarring. It is given through intradermal or subcutaneous vaccination, both of which are safe and effective methods that do not cause skin lesions.
While smallpox vaccine scars are less common today, they were once a sign that the vaccine had been successful in providing immunity against smallpox. Healthcare providers would check for the formation of a scar within six to eight days after vaccination. If no sore or blister formed, revaccination was sometimes recommended. Today, healthcare providers can typically identify an unsuccessful vaccination earlier in the process, before the lack of a scar becomes apparent.
In summary, smallpox vaccine scars are rare today due to the discontinuation of routine smallpox vaccination and the development of newer vaccines that do not cause scarring. While smallpox vaccine scars were once common, they are now only present in certain older age groups who received the vaccine decades ago.
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The scar is a sign the smallpox vaccine worked
The smallpox vaccine was administered using a bifurcated needle and a multiple puncture technique. This caused a skin lesion, which turned into a pus-filled blister and scabbed within a few weeks. This scab would then fall off, leaving a permanent scar. The scar is typically round or oval-shaped, about the size of a dime, and may be a little lower than the surrounding skin.
The scar is a sign that the vaccine was successful. A healthcare provider would check for the formation of the scar about six to eight days after administering the vaccine. If no sore formed, revaccination was recommended. The scar is a result of the body's immune system reacting to the live virus in the vaccine, creating a defence mechanism that pushes the virus out. This reaction leads to scarring.
The smallpox vaccine is no longer routinely administered. In the United States, routine smallpox vaccination ended in 1972, and the disease was eradicated globally in 1980. Now, the vaccine is only given to certain groups, such as specific military service members and laboratory workers.
The scar is a testament to a grand global achievement—the eradication of smallpox. It is a mark of protection and a sign that the body successfully fought off the infection introduced by the vaccine. The smallpox vaccine was a critical tool in the battle against this once-frightening and disfiguring disease, and the scar it left behind stands as a reminder of that victory.
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The smallpox vaccine is no longer common
The smallpox vaccine was administered using a bifurcated needle, which caused a skin lesion that scabbed over, leaving a permanent depressed scar. This scar was usually round or oval-shaped and about the size of a dime. It was often located on the upper left arm, although doctors sometimes administered the vaccine in other areas, such as the buttocks. The scar was a sign that the vaccine had been successful in creating an immune response in the body.
Today, the smallpox vaccine is only given to certain groups, such as certain military service members and laboratory workers. The JYNNEOS vaccine, which protects against both smallpox and mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), does not lead to scarring. This is because it is administered using a small needle to inject the vaccine between the top two layers of the skin, rather than the deeper puncture method used for the smallpox vaccine.
As a result of the discontinuation of routine smallpox vaccinations and the development of new vaccines that do not cause scarring, the smallpox vaccine scar is now much less common than it used to be. If you are from a younger generation, you probably don't have a smallpox vaccination scar, and even those who were vaccinated may not have developed a scar.
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The scar is usually round or oval-shaped
The smallpox vaccine is the most well-known vaccination that leaves a scar on the arm. The scar is usually round or oval-shaped and about the size of a dime, although it can vary in size. It is typically found on the upper left arm, just above the elbow, but can also be found on other parts of the arm or even the buttocks. The scar is a result of the vaccination technique, which involves a two-pronged or bifurcated needle that creates a small, controlled infection in the skin. This causes a localised infection that spurs the body's immune system to build up its defences. The bump later becomes a blister that dries up and leaves behind a permanent scar.
The smallpox vaccine was developed using a live variation of the vaccinia virus, which is similar to the variola virus that causes smallpox. The vaccine creates a controlled infection in the body, forcing the immune system to defend against the virus. This process leaves behind a small mark on the skin, known as a scar. The scar is typically round or oval-shaped and may appear deeper than the surrounding skin. It is a sign that the vaccine was successful in creating an immune response.
The smallpox vaccine was routine in many countries until the early 1970s when it was discontinued due to the successful eradication of smallpox. As a result, people over 40 years old are more likely to have the distinctive smallpox vaccine scar. The scar was once considered a sign of protection against smallpox and a way to prove that one was not a threat to their community. Today, the smallpox vaccine is only given to certain groups such as military service members and laboratory workers.
While the smallpox vaccine is the most well-known vaccination to leave a scar on the arm, the tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, also known as the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, can also cause a similar scar. The BCG vaccine scar is typically raised in the middle with rounded edges, although it can vary in appearance. The smallpox and TB vaccines are the only two vaccines known to consistently leave scars.
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The BCG vaccine also leaves a permanent scar
The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, which offers protection against tuberculosis (TB), often leaves a permanent scar in the area where the injection was administered. The BCG vaccine is the most frequently administered vaccine globally today. However, it is not given routinely in the United States.
The BCG vaccine scar typically has a raised centre and rounded edges. It is usually raised in the middle and may have more rounded edges. The scar formation occurs in the majority of people who receive the BCG vaccine, and its presence and size have been shown to correlate with the magnitude of the immune response to the BCG vaccination.
The BCG vaccine is a live-attenuated vaccine that has been associated with beneficial non-specific effects. Studies have shown that the prevalence of self-reported chronic, respiratory, and allergic diseases was lower for adults with BCG scars.
Interestingly, the mechanism underlying the telltale scar of the BCG vaccine is not well understood. The scar is a common specific reaction in Kawasaki's disease, and it has also been associated with viral infections, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, influenza vaccination, and mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.
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Frequently asked questions
The smallpox vaccine, which hasn't been routinely administered since 1972, leaves a scar on the arm. The scar is usually round or oval-shaped and about the size of a dime.
The smallpox vaccine uses a bifurcated needle with a two-pronged technique to cause a small, controlled infection in your skin. This creates a skin lesion, which turns into a pus-filled blister and scab within a few weeks. This process leaves behind a scar.
The tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, also known as the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, can also leave a permanent scar on the arm.
People who are 40 or older are likely to have a smallpox vaccine scar, depending on the country where they were born. This is because the vaccine was routinely administered to children until 1972.
