Rubella vaccine is a vaccine used to prevent rubella, with effectiveness beginning about two weeks after a single dose and around 95 percent of recipients becoming immune. Countries with high rates of immunization no longer see cases of rubella or congenital rubella syndrome, though when childhood immunization rates are low, congenital rubella can increase as more women reach childbearing age without either vaccination or prior exposure to the disease, so more than 80 percent coverage is considered important. By introducing rubella-containing vaccines, rubella has been eradicated in 81 nations as of mid-2020. The World Health Organization recommends that rubella vaccine be included in routine immunization, and at minimum that women of childbearing age be immunized; it should not be given to those who are pregnant or those with very poor immune function. The rubella vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine, available alone or in combination with other vaccines such as the MR, MMR and MMRV vaccines. It was first licensed in 1969, is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, and as of 2019 was included in the routine vaccination schedules of more than 173 countries.
Facts
Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubella_vaccine, lead sectionQuote, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubella_vaccine, lead section
Rubella vaccine is a vaccine used to prevent rubella.
2. Wikipedia: Rubella Vaccine Online Reference Encyclopedia Article
WikipediaLead sectionQuote, Lead section
A rubella vaccine was first licensed in 1969.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should not receive the rubella vaccine?
People who are pregnant or who have very poor immune function.
The rubella vaccine should not be given to people who are pregnant or to those with very poor immune function. It is a live attenuated vaccine, which is the reason for these limits. The World Health Organization recommends that rubella vaccine be included in routine immunization and, at minimum, that women of childbearing age be immunized.
Why does rubella vaccination matter for congenital rubella syndrome?
Low childhood coverage can raise congenital rubella; above 80 percent coverage is considered important.
Countries with high rates of immunization no longer see cases of rubella or congenital rubella syndrome. When childhood immunization rates are low, congenital rubella can actually increase, because more women reach childbearing age with neither vaccination nor prior exposure to the disease. For that reason coverage above 80 percent is considered important. By introducing rubella-containing vaccines, rubella has been eradicated in 81 nations as of mid-2020.
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