The Mystery of the Smallpox Scar
As a child, the author noticed a strange circular scar on their mother’s arm and later saw the same mark on another elderly woman.
The answer revealed a piece of medical history: it was from the smallpox vaccine.
A Deadly Disease
Smallpox was a highly contagious viral disease that killed about 30% of those infected and left survivors permanently scarred.
For centuries, it caused widespread suffering across the world.
How the Vaccine Worked
The vaccine used a bifurcated needle to deliver a live but safer virus called vaccinia into the skin.
A blister formed, healed, and left behind the well-known circular scar.
A Lasting Legacy
Smallpox was officially eradicated in 1980, and routine vaccination ended in the U.S. in 1972.
Today, the scar remains a visible reminder of one of humanity’s greatest medical achievements.