WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush plans to receive a smallpox vaccine along with members of the military, who are required to receive it, he said Friday at a press conference.

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"I'm ordering that military and other personnel who serve America in high-risk parts of the world receive a smallpox vaccine," Bush said.

Yet, he said he felt, as commander in chief, he couldn't ask others to take the health risk associated with getting a vaccination unless he, too, was willing to do so.

Inoculations will be offered to health professionals and emergency personnel on a voluntary basis.

However, he said that while the vaccine will be available for the general public by 2004, it is not recommended because of the health risks involved. Neither the first family nor Bush's staff will receive the vaccine, Bush said.

"We have decided not to initiate a broader vaccination program for all Americans at this time," Bush said. "Our government has no information that a smallpox attack is imminent."

"Our public health agencies began preparations more than a year ago," Bush said. "America has stockpiled enough vaccine, and is now prepared to inoculate our entire population in the event of a smallpox event."

Smallpox vaccinations have not been offered in the United States since 1972. The disease was declared eradicated by the World Health Organization in 1980, and there hasn't been a single case worldwide since then, Bush said. However, live versions of the virus still live in some labs.

Officials estimate that one or two people out of every 1 million vaccinated will die as a result of life-threatening reactions to the vaccine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people should not get a smallpox vaccine if they have these conditions:

Eczema
Weakened immune system
Other skin conditions
Current illness

You should also avoid the shot if you are pregnant or nursing, or if you live in a house with a child under the age of 1, according to the CDC.

Plan Draws Support

Former critics are now applauding Bush for his smallpox vaccine immunization plan.

Defense policy analyst Charles Pena said he thinks Bush took too long, but said the decision he finally reached "is the correct one."

He said it respects individual life and liberty, and fulfills the government's responsibility to protect its citizens from a bioterrorism attack.

"Although the possibility of an intentional release of smallpox is not quantifiable, the consequences of an outbreak would be great and we must be prepared," said Julie Gerberding, director of the CDC.

But will Americans actually get immunized? Reactions are mixed.

One Los Angeles resident said if the government is concerned about a smallpox attack, then it's probably a good idea to get the vaccine.

But others say a smallpox attack seems so unlikely that it may not be worth the risk.

Meanwhile, the CDC finished an initial review of plans submitted by states for smallpox vaccinations. The plans include number of people in each smallpox response team, information on where vaccines would be administered, the number of health care facilities participating, and the number of clinics needed to support this effort.

"We are extremely pleased and quite impressed with the plans that have been submitted to CDC so far," said Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. "It is obvious the state and local health departments and hospitals have stepped up to the plate under an extremely tight timetable to complete another critical step in our efforts to better protect Americans in the event of an intentional release of smallpox."

The review found that close to 450,000 public health and health care personnel may be offered the vaccine on a voluntary basis when it becomes available.

Additional Resources:

• CDC Bioterrorism Site
• HHS Smallpox Page