I and 2 buddies got it from the vaccine.
The vaccine was defective. You’re right, I was luck that they had the right meds available.
One of the other two guys had meningitis for a secondary infection, but even he pulled through.
I know why it’s called black plague; you get black pools of blood under your skin from the tissue break down and hemorrhaging.
The really painful part is the immensely swollen lymph nodes, especially the buboes where your legs attach to your body.
As for the mortality rate, it is worse in the pneumonic form. I did not have that. I had the systemic form and my lungs were not involved.
Not having your lungs involved was good; I understand that is a real bitch!