Israel to inoculate rescue workers for smallpox

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- The Israeli government has approved a plan to inoculate about 15,000 rescue workers against smallpox in case of a biological attack.

Israeli Health Ministry spokesman Ido Hadari said Wednesday that authorities are drawing up a list of inoculation candidates, which will include hospital emergency room workers, all Israel ambulance services employees, some police and firefighters and other doctors and medical staff in the public-health sector.

The criteria for the first round of inoculations will be "who is going to be first to come in contact with the infected person," Hadari said.

The inoculations also pose risks, according to Hadari, with 1 in a million people inoculated dying and 300 in a million of those inoculated suffering severe side effects.

Hadori said anyone who does not want to be inoculated will not have to do it.

The decision by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's security Cabinet is likely to intensify debate over whether the entire Israeli population should be inoculated.

Israeli authorities said they fear that a war involving Iraq could leave their country vulnerable to chemical or biological attack, including smallpox. Smallpox is a highly contagious disease characterized by fever, weakness, vomiting and rashes.

The Bush administration has been considering its options for a possible invasion of Iraq.

The head of a committee set up last year to explore the threat quit this month after the Israeli government rejected his recommendations that all Israelis be inoculated for smallpox.

Depending upon the strength of the vaccine, a typical smallpox inoculation is generally believed to provide a high level of protection for five to 10 years, according to the World Health Organization.