THERE was still no clear-cut, agreed view on the safety and efficiency of the anthrax vaccination, Australian Medical Association (AMA) president Kerryn Phelps has said.

If the Defence Force had conclusive evidence on the matter, the medical profession would like to see it, she said today.

Dr Phelps was speaking after a furore over several service people heading for the Persian Gulf refusing to take the controversial inoculation due to concerns over associated medical problems.

Chief of the Navy, Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie, has since reassured sailors the vaccination was safe.

But Dr Phelps remained unconvinced.

"If they have that data, the medical profession in Australian would very much like to see it," she told ABC radio.

Dr Phelps also defended a young sailor from the HMAS Kanimbla who spoke out about his concerns.

"Raising issues and speaking about the concerns that his colleagues have is not really causing any harm," she said.

"If what it does is act as a catalyst for the defence forces to release the information that they have on safety and efficacy, I think then it will have done a power of good."

Dr Phelps said there simply was not enough data on the anthrax jabs in the medical press, particularly the peer-reviewed medical journals, to convince doctors of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.

AAP