The smallpox vaccine causes an immune reaction in your skin that leaves a small scar.
tonguepuncher88 on
It’s because of the method of delivery for the smallpox vaccine.
1984isnoww on
Yeah I had to get this when I went to Korea.
They poke you in the arm a couple times with a needle covered in the small pox virus, a weakened version apparently.
Then you get this nasty bubble on your arm for a week and it falls off.
ThatDamnRocketRacoon on
I think Gen X was the last generation to have these. Not even sure all of them have it.
ThinkLadder1417 on
In the UK these were called the bcg vaccine, can’t recall what it stood for, they’re discontinued.
They blistered and were sore, it was common tradition for older kids to punch your arm to make them worse, which contributed to the terrible scaring.
Intelligent_Sky_7081 on
I like how when people don’t understand something, they assume it’s a conspiracy
Or God. It’s one of the two
lonelycranberry on
This isn’t a conspiracy.
ThrowinSm0ke on
I’m 42. Both my parents had this. When I was in high school., I needed to get a TB show and they did it in my hand. The shot made a big ass bubble, but never left a scar
Sugar_Vivid on
Why is even the most casual thing a conspiracy now?
Disastrous-Eagle3891 on
Some countries (Antipodean) phased these out in the late 80’s, so I never got vaxxed for TB. I think it’s because they thought they had eradicated it in our country. (NZ). However, migration and global travel has brought it back with a vengeance-so babies now get vaccinated again. At this stage I am not immune.
Saint_299 on
My mom was born in 48’ and had that scar
National-Plastic8691 on
“ The smallpox vaccine is given by a special technique. It is not administered as a “shot” in the way that most other vaccines are. It is given using a two-pronged (bifurcated) needle that is dipped into the vaccine solution. When removed, the needle holds a droplet of the vaccine. The needle is used to prick the skin a number of times in a few seconds. The pricking is not deep, but it will cause a sore spot and one or two drops of blood to form. The vaccine usually is given in the upper arm.
If the vaccination is successful, a red and itchy lesion develops at the vaccine site in 3 to 4 days. In the first week, the lesion becomes a large blister, fills with pus, and begins to drain. During the second week, the lesion begins to dry and a scab forms. The scab falls off in the third week, leaving a small scar.”
I have that from the TB vaccine when I was a baby.
dparks2010 on
I’m an old fart and have the scar.
Got it as a kid in grade school. The class was lined up in the gym, and the school nurse and iirc other teachers administered the *”shots”*. I just recall it itching like a motherfucker.
let_me_in_QQ on
I have one. That didn’t heal for a week and was painful. That’s the scar.
Vast-Truth-7360 on
This is the “I wasn’t born in America” mark. LOL All my friends who were born overseas and in another country have this.
northern_crypto on
My parents were born in 58 and they have these scars too. I was born in 80s and dont have it.
emilchien on
It’s the scar after the reaction to tuberculosis vaccine – it makes scab. nothing consoiracy related here
RapRexx on
1898. Tengo una. Mi hijo ya tiene su cicatriz. Casi todo mexicano tiene una. 😌
*Smallpox vaccine was administered through a unique process, termed ‘scarification,’ where it is delivered percutaneously into the dermal layer. Using a bifurcated needle dipped into a reconstituted vial of vaccine, a multiple puncture technique is performed involving repeated jabs (up to 15 times within a 1 cm diameter region) in until a small drop of blood appears [*[*92*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR92)*]. Vaccinia virus multiplies and infects the epithelial layers of the skin initially causing redness, then at day 3–5 after vaccination a papule approximately 1 cm in diameter; this is followed by induration, leading to a “Jennerian pustule” by day 5–8 [*[*92*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR92)*]. Crusting and desquamation of the skin overlying the vaccination site occurs by day 14–21, eventually leaving a pitted scar [*[*92*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR92)*]. At the histological level in a non-human primate model of smallpox vaccination, inflammatory cell infiltration and an innate immune response predominate initially, including local recruitment of macrophages and granulocytes as well as monocytoid cells associated with upregulation of TNF pathways [*[*38*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR38)*]. Vaccinia-specific CD8 + T cells are likely generated in skin-draining lymph nodes from where they home back to the skin, including the vaccination site [*[*93*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR93)*] where they can lyse infected target cells and promote resolution of vaccine ‘infection’ [*[*94*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR94)*].*
Everyone born in Soviet Union or post Soviet countries have this. It’s because they used some sort of glass syringe
Why_r_people_ on
I have this for the TB vaccine. It’s not administered with a regular needle, the thing looked like a gun. Hurt like hell
QuirkySnake on
Born in the Caribbean in the 90s. I have it. Everyone in my family has it.
thischaracter17 on
Funny enough I was born in Mexico 1991 and the scar was a way to authenticate that you were actually born in Mexico. I call it my “Made in Mexico” stamp instead of “Made in China” like most things 😂
death_mechanic on
Born in 73, I have it. We got it in school in the UK, if I remember correctly it was the BCG inoculation, some of my friends had bad reactions to it, I just got a scar
Compromisee on
Pretty sure mine ended up the way it did because all the lads in my school thought it was funny to go around punching everyone’s arm to make them burst over and over
DuckOk6762 on
My Mom was born in 52 and she has it. It was for the smallpox vaccine
Device420 on
People born after about 1970 don’t have them.
BizBlondie on
My mother was anti vax, so I never got one. Apparently it was mandatory to go to school, but somehow I made it through 12 years of education at 6 different schools without it. 🤔
TropicUSA on
So what actually caused that scar, I’m early gen X, I never got that vaccination.
Entire_Musician_8667 on
My mom has one, smallpox vaccine I think she got while in the army.
R0UNDSD0WNRANGE on
Smallpox vaccine. It’s a requirement in the military to this day to have one before deployment. I got it 2 times in the same spot. (2 dif deployments)
buffalozetaa on
Seen at least 4 chicks with this in Berlin. Anecdotal but I seent it
IllHand on
Small pox!!
bossman771 on
Smallpox vaccine. Both of my parents have them. They are both in their 60s.
jason733canada on
i have one .Gen Xer
sammppler on
BCG
Crumblycheese on
I have one of these… Always had it and was told it’s from scratching at chicken pox but I onky have the one… Surely if it was scratching at chicken pox I’d have more?
Other weird thing is, it’s on my stomach. Nowhere near as prominent now but still there. Born ’92 if that’s anything
Amadecasa on
When I was in second or third grade, in the early 60’s, a classmate got this vaccination. We watched in horror as the sore got really ugly. All of us had already had it and didn’t remember, but we had the scar.
Indigo_Eyez on
The smallpox vaccine was administered with a bifurcated needle onto the skin and the immune response was to cause this scarring.
Evil-Manson on
Here in Brazil, everyone gets one just by being born.
gridirongladiator on
My parents have this mark but I don’t. They were born in the 70s.
dustycrackers on
I was born in 1979 and remember getting this in first grade. There were nurses at a table with like three kids at a time. I don’t remember how long exactly after but we had to show where we got the shot for a checkup, in school. 🤷♀️
ArdyLaing on
Had this as a child. In the UK it was known colloquially as “six pricks” and administered several injections at once, hence the scarring.
Zealousideal_Ad1704 on
Everyone in Colombia has one
Inevitable-News-1740 on
My fiancés are from ussr they are like bullet holes
49 Comments
Smallpox vaccine scar
The smallpox vaccine causes an immune reaction in your skin that leaves a small scar.
It’s because of the method of delivery for the smallpox vaccine.
Yeah I had to get this when I went to Korea.
They poke you in the arm a couple times with a needle covered in the small pox virus, a weakened version apparently.
Then you get this nasty bubble on your arm for a week and it falls off.
I think Gen X was the last generation to have these. Not even sure all of them have it.
In the UK these were called the bcg vaccine, can’t recall what it stood for, they’re discontinued.
They blistered and were sore, it was common tradition for older kids to punch your arm to make them worse, which contributed to the terrible scaring.
I like how when people don’t understand something, they assume it’s a conspiracy
Or God. It’s one of the two
This isn’t a conspiracy.
I’m 42. Both my parents had this. When I was in high school., I needed to get a TB show and they did it in my hand. The shot made a big ass bubble, but never left a scar
Why is even the most casual thing a conspiracy now?
Some countries (Antipodean) phased these out in the late 80’s, so I never got vaxxed for TB. I think it’s because they thought they had eradicated it in our country. (NZ). However, migration and global travel has brought it back with a vengeance-so babies now get vaccinated again. At this stage I am not immune.
My mom was born in 48’ and had that scar
“ The smallpox vaccine is given by a special technique. It is not administered as a “shot” in the way that most other vaccines are. It is given using a two-pronged (bifurcated) needle that is dipped into the vaccine solution. When removed, the needle holds a droplet of the vaccine. The needle is used to prick the skin a number of times in a few seconds. The pricking is not deep, but it will cause a sore spot and one or two drops of blood to form. The vaccine usually is given in the upper arm.
If the vaccination is successful, a red and itchy lesion develops at the vaccine site in 3 to 4 days. In the first week, the lesion becomes a large blister, fills with pus, and begins to drain. During the second week, the lesion begins to dry and a scab forms. The scab falls off in the third week, leaving a small scar.”
https://www.cdc.gov/smallpox/vaccines/getting-your-smallpox-vaccine.html
We all have it in Brazil. Its mandatory for kids.
anyone before 1976 has them for sure
I have that from the TB vaccine when I was a baby.
I’m an old fart and have the scar.
Got it as a kid in grade school. The class was lined up in the gym, and the school nurse and iirc other teachers administered the *”shots”*. I just recall it itching like a motherfucker.
I have one. That didn’t heal for a week and was painful. That’s the scar.
This is the “I wasn’t born in America” mark. LOL All my friends who were born overseas and in another country have this.
My parents were born in 58 and they have these scars too. I was born in 80s and dont have it.
It’s the scar after the reaction to tuberculosis vaccine – it makes scab. nothing consoiracy related here
1898. Tengo una. Mi hijo ya tiene su cicatriz. Casi todo mexicano tiene una. 😌
# Skin response to smallpox vaccination (Fig. [1](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#Fig1))
*Smallpox vaccine was administered through a unique process, termed ‘scarification,’ where it is delivered percutaneously into the dermal layer. Using a bifurcated needle dipped into a reconstituted vial of vaccine, a multiple puncture technique is performed involving repeated jabs (up to 15 times within a 1 cm diameter region) in until a small drop of blood appears [*[*92*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR92)*]. Vaccinia virus multiplies and infects the epithelial layers of the skin initially causing redness, then at day 3–5 after vaccination a papule approximately 1 cm in diameter; this is followed by induration, leading to a “Jennerian pustule” by day 5–8 [*[*92*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR92)*]. Crusting and desquamation of the skin overlying the vaccination site occurs by day 14–21, eventually leaving a pitted scar [*[*92*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR92)*]. At the histological level in a non-human primate model of smallpox vaccination, inflammatory cell infiltration and an innate immune response predominate initially, including local recruitment of macrophages and granulocytes as well as monocytoid cells associated with upregulation of TNF pathways [*[*38*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR38)*]. Vaccinia-specific CD8 + T cells are likely generated in skin-draining lymph nodes from where they home back to the skin, including the vaccination site [*[*93*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR93)*] where they can lyse infected target cells and promote resolution of vaccine ‘infection’ [*[*94*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR94)*].*
*The mode as well as the route of smallpox vaccine delivery can impact scar formation as well as both its pathogen-specific and -agnostic responses. In a rabbit model an immune-protective response becomes detectable within two minutes of scarification. And this protective immune response from local smallpox vaccine ‘infection’ is observed even if no vaccine is administered, suggesting the multiple puncture scarification process itself contributes to ‘pathogen-specific/agnostic’ protection [*[*95*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR95)*]. This is likely related to activation of keratinocytes which then act as phagocytes and release preformed chemokines to induce a potent local antiviral state [*[*95*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR95)*]. This scarification response may also be impacted by the skin microbiome, as antibiotic pre-treatment of mice prior to smallpox vaccination reduces the subsequent immune response [*[*96*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR96)*]. Lastly, the importance of the route of smallpox vaccine delivery to enhance pathogen-specific and -agnostic effects has been highlighted in animal models [*[*43*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR43)*,* [*97*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR97)*]. In a non-human primate model, Modified Vaccinia Ankara expressing Env (i.e. a model SIV-vaccine) led to neutrophil infiltration and activation, resulting in protection against an experimental intravaginal SIV challenge only in intradermally but not intramuscularly vaccinated animals [*[*43*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR43)*,* [*98*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR98)*,* [*99*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR99)*]. Events in the skin thus impact both pathogen-specific as well as -agnostic protection following smallpox vaccination [*[*93*](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/#CR93)*].*
*Source:* [The mark of success: The role of vaccine-induced skin scar formation for BCG and smallpox vaccine-associated clinical benefits – PMC](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11347488/)
Everyone born in Soviet Union or post Soviet countries have this. It’s because they used some sort of glass syringe
I have this for the TB vaccine. It’s not administered with a regular needle, the thing looked like a gun. Hurt like hell
Born in the Caribbean in the 90s. I have it. Everyone in my family has it.
Funny enough I was born in Mexico 1991 and the scar was a way to authenticate that you were actually born in Mexico. I call it my “Made in Mexico” stamp instead of “Made in China” like most things 😂
Born in 73, I have it. We got it in school in the UK, if I remember correctly it was the BCG inoculation, some of my friends had bad reactions to it, I just got a scar
Pretty sure mine ended up the way it did because all the lads in my school thought it was funny to go around punching everyone’s arm to make them burst over and over
My Mom was born in 52 and she has it. It was for the smallpox vaccine
People born after about 1970 don’t have them.
My mother was anti vax, so I never got one. Apparently it was mandatory to go to school, but somehow I made it through 12 years of education at 6 different schools without it. 🤔
So what actually caused that scar, I’m early gen X, I never got that vaccination.
My mom has one, smallpox vaccine I think she got while in the army.
Smallpox vaccine. It’s a requirement in the military to this day to have one before deployment. I got it 2 times in the same spot. (2 dif deployments)
Seen at least 4 chicks with this in Berlin. Anecdotal but I seent it
Small pox!!
Smallpox vaccine. Both of my parents have them. They are both in their 60s.
i have one .Gen Xer
BCG
I have one of these… Always had it and was told it’s from scratching at chicken pox but I onky have the one… Surely if it was scratching at chicken pox I’d have more?
Other weird thing is, it’s on my stomach. Nowhere near as prominent now but still there. Born ’92 if that’s anything
When I was in second or third grade, in the early 60’s, a classmate got this vaccination. We watched in horror as the sore got really ugly. All of us had already had it and didn’t remember, but we had the scar.
The smallpox vaccine was administered with a bifurcated needle onto the skin and the immune response was to cause this scarring.
Here in Brazil, everyone gets one just by being born.
My parents have this mark but I don’t. They were born in the 70s.
I was born in 1979 and remember getting this in first grade. There were nurses at a table with like three kids at a time. I don’t remember how long exactly after but we had to show where we got the shot for a checkup, in school. 🤷♀️
Had this as a child. In the UK it was known colloquially as “six pricks” and administered several injections at once, hence the scarring.
Everyone in Colombia has one
My fiancés are from ussr they are like bullet holes