# Smallpox vaccine: 15 pokes with a double-pointed needle **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 14, 2002, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-15-pokes-with-a-double-pointed-needle/142727 "2002-12-14T14:21:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KenP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c0e974/32.png) [@KenP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KenP)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-15-pokes-with-a-double-pointed-needle/142727/1 "2002-12-14T14:21:38Z")
Why is the smallpox vaccine given in this manner, instead of with a single injection? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-15-pokes-with-a-double-pointed-needle/142727/2 "2002-12-14T15:07:38Z")
Because it’s not injected. It’s not a hypodermic needle. The double pronged needle is dipped into the vaccine solution and is then pricked into the skin many times in a few seconds. This helps more of the solution to de absorbed intradermally. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-15-pokes-with-a-double-pointed-needle/142727/3 "2002-12-14T15:10:03Z")
ok, I take my first sentense back. Technically that’s still an injection. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-15-pokes-with-a-double-pointed-needle/142727/4 "2002-12-14T15:13:48Z")
Sounds more like a tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![KenP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c0e974/32.png) [@KenP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KenP)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-15-pokes-with-a-double-pointed-needle/142727/5 "2002-12-14T15:20:20Z")
Thanks, x-ray vision, but why does it need to be absorbed intradermally? Are other vaccines given in the same manner? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-15-pokes-with-a-double-pointed-needle/142727/6 "2002-12-14T15:47:17Z")
An itradermal injection produces less sever local reactions, thus decreasing the risk of inadvertent autoinoculation or transmission The Mantous test is given itradermal (not to be confused with subcutaneous) but I can’t think of any other vaccines. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-15-pokes-with-a-double-pointed-needle/142727/7 "2002-12-14T15:50:07Z")
lots of spelling mistakes- that Mantoux test ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-15-pokes-with-a-double-pointed-needle/142727/8 "2002-12-14T16:52:21Z")
The [Mantoux test](http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantoux_test) is a diagnostic for tuberculosis. It has nothing to do with [Manitous](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0077904) or [Manitees](http://www.thefloridacatholic.org/images/Wallpaper/Manitee1024.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-15-pokes-with-a-double-pointed-needle/142727/9 "2002-12-14T17:11:40Z")
actually **Squink** , it does come form Manitees. The vaccine was originally made from the pancreatic secretions of the manitee. However, now it is produced synthetically. ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-15-pokes-with-a-double-pointed-needle/142727/10 "2002-12-14T18:52:14Z")
For those not in on the joke, the Mantoux intracutaneous tuberculin test is named after its developer, Dr. Charles Mantoux (French physician, 1887-1947); it has nothing to do with “Manitees” (or with manatees, for that matter). ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-15-pokes-with-a-double-pointed-needle/142727/11 "2002-12-14T19:03:49Z")
He-He 😉