Do all smallpox inoculations appear on same shoulder?

Question

P.S. you may or may not posess one--or know you do?

Answer 1

if you got in on the rt.arm it is there
on the left arm there
on the rt. thigh there
on the left thigh there
years ago girls often got the shot in the thigh to make the scar less obvious
it is the scar left from the healing of the injection site
the injection formed a large scab which dried up and fell off
parents used to be warned not to let the child touch the spot as contact with any drainage could cause spreading or "self innoculations"
in the U.S. it used to be a regular childhood immunizations
approximately in 1970 it was no longer deemed necessary as routine

Answer 2

Years ago ( I was born in 1960), it was common to receive the inoculation on the outer, upper arm. Most times, I've noticed that it was commonly given in the left arm with other people in my generation.. Why?? I'm not sure.But, since it was in the generation, when left handed people were considered to be sinister ( if you are of the Catholic faith) . the inoculation was given on the left so the right handed people would be able to still use that arm/hand since it was a painful immunization. Just guessing, but I'm a lefty. After the inoculation, a plastic bubble with holes in it to allow in air, was placed over the site and taped down.. This also preventing from picking, scratching the site.I can recall that is was very painful. Good question!

Answer 3

Think in the U.S. most people were vaccinated on their upper left arms. (Something to do with most people being right handed I've always heard.) I'm left handed so usually got my shots in my right arm, but distinctly recall the nurse making a big deal about vaccinating me on the left. Have known a goodly number of girls who had their scars on their left thigh, and a few people, usually men, on their left forearm. Everyone is correct, smallpox vaccinations are very painful; a condition which can last for several weeks.

Answer 4

when I was innoculated in the 60's it was common practice to give smallpox innoculations to the girls on the inside of the left arm. to save visible scarring later in life. I have to really look to find mine.

Answer 5

In North America and Europe it was the standard to give smallpox vaccinations on the upper left arm. This standard location allowed quick checking as to whether one was properly vaccinated or not.

Some girls were vaccinated on the inner aspect of the left arm to hide the scar when wearing sleeveless dresses whilst still more or less keeping the location.

As smallpox became less common, there started to be more variation in the vaccination location. Girls were sometimes vaccinated on their left thigh whilst some left handed kids were done on the right arm.

Later, the upper left arm also became the standard location for the BCG vaccination against TB as it too left a mark that could be checked when required.