Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Rubella (German Measles) Vaccination
Pronounced (rue-BELL-a)
The rubella vaccine is a live attenuated (weakened) virus. Although it is available as a single preparation, it is recommended that in most cases rubella vaccine be given as part of the MMR vaccine (protecting against measles, mumps, and rubella). MMR is recommended at 12-15 months (not earlier) and a second dose when the child is 4-6 years old (before kindergarten or 1st grade).
Rubella vaccination is particularly important for non-immune women who may become pregnant because of the risk for serious birth defects if they acquire the disease during pregnancy
What You Should Know:
For Health Professionals:
What You Should Know
- Brief description
Symptoms, treatment, transmission, etc. - Questions and Answers (exit)
- About rubella and rubella vaccination UPDATED
Parent's Guide to Childhood Immunization (screen-reader version) - Pictures of Rubella
Warning: Some of these photos are quite graphic. - What
risks does rubella pose for the fetus? (exit)
Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) - March of Dimes - Travelers information
Information and updates on risks for travelers, precautions, prevention, etc.
The measles disease can be prevented by the combination vaccine: MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella). In 2005, a combination MMRV (measles-mumps-rubella-varicella) vaccine was licensed.
- As an adult, do I need this vaccine?
(19 years and older) - Side Effects
- Precautions, side-effects, and combination vaccines
Parents Guide to Immunizations (screen-reader version) - Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- School Vaccine Requirements
- History of the MMR vaccine (exit)
- Decision Aid: Considering MMR vaccination for your child? (exit)
Autism Theory
- MMR vaccine and autism theory
- Vaccines
and autism (exit)
Author: Dr. Paul Offit, Director, Vaccine Education Center - Autism
and vaccine research (exit)
Source: National Institute of Child Health and Development - Just
the Facts... MMR and Autism (exit)
Authors: American Academy of Pediatrics - Does
MMR vaccine cause autism? Examine the evidence (exit)
Immunization Action Coalition - Guidance to pediatricians on recognizing the
early symptoms of autism and recommendations
on continuing immunization (exit)
News release from American Academy of Pediatrics (7 May 2001) - Other scientists have not been able to reproduce
the results claimed by Dr Wakefield and his
team regarding measles virus (exit)
WHO statement on the use of MMR vaccine - Is there any scientific evidence that proves a link between autism & vaccines? (exit)
NIH, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - More...
Other concerns
- Chronic Anthropathy and Rubella Vaccine
- Catholics hold differing views about the question of rubella vaccination for children
- Febrile seizures after MMR and DTP vaccinations
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and MMR vaccine
- More...
As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the injection site, headache, fatigue or a vague feeling of discomfort.
- Are
vaccines safe? (exit)
FAQs on The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia website - Multiple or combined vaccines and the immune system
- CDC's Vaccine Safety website
- Hot
Topics (exit)
Vaccine safety topics on The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia website - Lessening the Pain of Vaccines (exit)
Techniques worth trying
- What if we stopped vaccinating for this disease?
- Who should not be vaccinated with MMR vaccine?
- Pregnancy guidelines
For Health Professionals
Clinical
- Pink Book's chapter on Rubella
Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - MMR Clinical questions and answers
- Ask the Experts (exit)
CDC experts (medial officers, medical epidemiologists, etc.) - NIPINFO Answers Your Questions about MMR
- An Introduction to Rubella in Healthcare Settings
- Prevention & Control of Rubella in Healthcare Settings
- Proper handling of MMR vaccine
Recommendations
- ACIP recommendations
- Rubella official recommendations (exit)
- Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations (exit) NEW JULY 28
- Standing Orders (exit)
- Contraindications
- ACIP - Vaccines for Children (VFC) Resolution
Precautions and use during outbreaks
References and Resources
- Related MMWR articles, links, and references (exit)
- More MMWRs on MMR
- Pink Book's chapter on Rubella (14 pages, compliant)
Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Surveillance manual's chapter on Rubella
Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Surveillance manual's chapter on Congenital Rubella Syndrome
Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Travelers Health: Yellow Book
- Rubella in Healthcare Settings
- Infection control guidelines
Provider Education
- Clinical
education slide set
from the "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases" course - Podcasts
Materials for Patients
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Someday You Might Have a Baby rubella flyer (exit)
also: Algún día usted podrá tener un bebé rubella flyer - Important facts for parents to know about the MMR vaccine (exit)
- Stories of people who suffered or died from vaccine-preventable diseases (exit)
- Rubella: Questions and Answers (exit)
Ready-to-print versions of one of the CDC-reviewed Q&A material located on IAC's Vaccine Information website (www.vaccineinformation.org) Dated 4/07
Non-CDC Link Disclaimer: Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization web pages found at these links.
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Content last reviewed on May 7, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases