SMALLPOX vaccine has arrived in Australia for the first time in more than 20 years as fears grow of a biological terror attack.

Australian experts are considering whether to follow the US lead and vaccinate defence and medical personnel.

But there are no plans at this stage to vaccinate the entire Australian population.

George W. Bush has ordered vaccinations for his nation's 500,000 soldiers and 10 million police, health and emergency workers. The US President will also be vaccinated.

It will then be offered to the entire US population by 2004.

Britain announced plans to vaccinate key health and defence staff earlier this month.

Smallpox was eradicated globally in 1980, but there are fears rogue nations such as Iraq, and extremist groups such as al-Qaeda, have stocks of the virus -- and could use them in a terror attack.

Australia's chief medical officer, Professor Richard Smallwood, yesterday said 50,000 doses of smallpox vaccine had arrived from France in the past few days.

Up to 100,000 more doses were expected early next year as part of an $11.4 million program to stockpile medicines in the event of a biological attack.

The vaccine is being kept in a secure location until a decision about its use is made.

"It's a prudent step to take, cognisance of the fact that terrorists might have the smallpox virus," Professor Smallwood said.

"We are now in a position to respond to any incident, but everything is under constant, careful consideration as to how we use the vaccine and how much, in the longer term, we should stockpile."

He said he was confident authorities could contain an outbreak in Australia and there was no reason to panic.

"I'm not aware of any information that says an attack is imminent with the smallpox virus, or even that it is in the wrong hands," he said.

"My advice at this point is to go about your ordinary lives. The risk of being exposed to smallpox in Australia is low."

Professor Smallwood is the head of the Federal Government's Infectious Diseases Emergency Response Group, which will advise of the most appropriate use of the vaccine early next year.

The 22-member group includes epidemiologists, public health experts and scientists.

Professor Smallwood said, while Britain and the US had launched vaccination campaigns, there was no need for Australia to do so immediately.

"Each country has to decide its own balance of risk. One of the things we have to consider is the risk of the vaccine itself," he said.

"There is a risk in using the vaccine. It's not the safest vaccine. In fact, it's probably the least safest vaccine."

Up to two people of each million vaccinated against smallpox will die.

Side effects include swollen glands, skin lesions, headache, fever and potentially fatal encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain.

The virus, which is spread through contact and droplets from sneezing or coughing, kills 30 per cent of its victims within days.

Sunday Herald Sun