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http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s747258.htm

Saturday, December  14, 2002. Posted: 13:27:53 (AEDT)

Australia to monitor US smallpox vaccination program

Australian health authorities say they will closely examine a smallpox vaccination program in the United States in trying to determine their response.

US President George W Bush has ordered military and other personnel serving America overseas to be vaccinated against smallpox.

In Australia, a new shipment of 50,000 doses of smallpox vaccine has arrived in the past 48 hours.

The Commonwealth chief medical officer, Professor Richard Smallwood, says the vaccine will be stockpiled so Australia is effectively prepared for an outbreak.

"But I think we have to bear in mind that this is a vaccine that has its only unpleasant effects and if the US, for example, is going to vaccinate 200 million people then they're going to have 200 to 400 people die as a result of that so there is a risk to doing that," he said.

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