So monkeypox is definitely going to kill a few of us.

[Dan Druff]

It's actually really close if I got the smallpox vaccine or not.

I would need to know when it ended in 1972. If it ended in early '72, I didn't get it. If it ended in the middle or later part of the year, then I probably did get it. Babies typically get these vaccines about 2 months after birth.

Out of curiosity I just asked my mom by text, but there's a good chance she doesn't remember, since it's been 50 years.

My mother is traveling right now, but I was curious myself. Not that I’m concerned about this, just curious. I’m pretty sure the small pox vaccine was the one that left the little circle I recall on peoples arms growing up. Kind of an uneven circular shape. I remember asking about it as a kid, and why I didn’t have the circle.

I can’t remember if she said they started to do it differently, or they had started phasing it out. Obviously I’m a couple years older than you. I’m not so sure I even had it, but it’s entirely possible I’m not remembering the conversation correctly. I’ll ask when she returns.

I think they may have started phasing it out before 1972

That's what my mom said. She said that they left circles on your arm, and that she doesn't believe I got it. I definitely don't remember any circle on my arm from any vaccine.

It's possible that the vaccine administered 50+ years ago wouldn't help today, anyway. I mean, look at how useless the COVID vaccine becomes after just 6 months. That's why I now have this annoying twice-a-year ritual of getting myself sick (which I'm going to quit at some point).

Anyway, if monkeypox really is transmitting through gay sex, you and I have nothing to worry about. The rest of the users here... well... you never know.