For many of us, a glance at an older relative can reveal traces of history etched onto their skin—quite literally. One of the most recognizable reminders of past public health efforts is the smallpox vaccine scar, a mark carried by millions of people born before the 1970s.
I first noticed this as a child on my mother’s arm. High on her shoulder, a ring of tiny indents surrounded a larger central mark. At the time, it piqued my curiosity, though I never fully retained the explanation. It wasn’t until years later, when I glimpsed a similar scar on an elderly woman I helped off a train, that my fascination resurfaced. A quick call to my mother confirmed what I had long forgotten: the mark was from her smallpox vaccination.
Smallpox: A Deadly Disease
