PUBLIC health consultants in Preston are sitting tight and waiting for news from the Department of Health on whether their staff will be vaccinated against a deadly virus.

It comes as news that the Government department has been stockpiling the vaccine with plans being considered to immunise key health workers against the potentially fatal virus -- despite serious side effects.

The proposed vaccine is a precautionary measure to ensure they could continue to treat the sick without fear of contracting the deadly virus.

Dr Nick Gent, consultant in health protection for Lancashire and Cumbria, has said that his unit could be one of the departments to be immunised against the virus and it could easily be carried out in a couple of days.

He said: "We haven't received the vaccine yet we are waiting for further advice, which may be in the next week or so. If the Department of Health think it's a reasonable thing to do, then I am happy to be vaccinated. There are potential side effects. With all vaccines, you may feel ill with fever like symptoms for a few days."

A spokesman from the Department of Health said the side effects from the vaccine were quite severe, in some cases triggering encephalitis -- inflammation of the brain.

Dr Gent said that Russia and America are the only two countries known to have access to smallpox, but there are thoughts that rogue states may have had access to illegally held stocks of the smallpox virus.

The Department of Health confirmed that they have been considering immunising as a contingency plan against possible terrorist attacks.

A spokesman said: "Options are now being considered about the possibility of immunising some key health care workers."

The smallpox virus has not been present for more than a quarter of a century, according to Dr Gent, but the last case of it was recorded in Birmingham.

"Smallpox is virulent and causes eruptions of small blisters across the body it attacks the organs causing breathing difficulties," said Dr Gent.