# Smallpox vaccine - what does "+" mean?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-what-does-mean/717789>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 15, 2015, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-what-does-mean/717789 "2015-04-15T23:02:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-what-does-mean/717789/1 "2015-04-15T23:02:27Z")

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My sister sent some of my records my Mom kept - including some of my childhood vaccinations (though I know I got some in school and they are not recorded)

Anyhow In the “Smallpox” there is a date, a “+” in the results column, and the doctor’s signature.

Does the “+” mean I had a reaction?

Thanks,  
Brian  
Had DTP, polio, and smallpox; but not MMR - wonder if that is what I was vaccinated for in school (though I did get mumps)

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**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-what-does-mean/717789/2 "2015-04-15T23:23:25Z")

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Booster shot?

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**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-what-does-mean/717789/3 "2015-04-15T23:26:09Z")

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> [@N9IWP](#):
>
> … In the “Smallpox” there is a date, a “+” in the results column, and the doctor’s signature.
> 
> Does the “+” mean I had a reaction?

It means that the vaccination “took”. This post-vaccination reading (by the vaccine administer-er) was vital when smallpox vaccinations were required.

> [@](#):
>
> Had DTP, polio, and smallpox; but not MMR - wonder if that is what I was vaccinated for in school …

Routine smallpox vaccinations for children were discontinued in the early '70s, just about the time that the MMR immunization combo was coming into common use. So if you had either one, you likely missed the other.

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**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-what-does-mean/717789/4 "2015-04-16T02:07:20Z")

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Yes, this was mid 60s that I got the smallpox vaccine. I remember getting shots at school (IIRC one was a needle the other was pneumatic) - this would have been early/mid 70s

Brian

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**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-vaccine-what-does-mean/717789/5 "2015-04-16T02:07:33Z")

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> [@FeAudrey](#):
>
> It means that the vaccination “took”. This post-vaccination reading (by the vaccine administer-er) was vital when smallpox vaccinations were required. . . . .

[Relevant pictures](http://www.smallpox.mil/event/types.asp).