A Very Different Vaccination Method
Unlike modern vaccines, which are usually administered with a single-needle syringe, the smallpox vaccine was delivered using a bifurcated needle designed to make multiple punctures in the same area of skin, typically between 10 and 15. This procedure caused a mild reaction in the area, which would swell and form a scab. Once healed, it left behind a circular, indented scar that over time became a recognizable feature for an entire generation.
