Rubella - the Vaccine
The rubella vaccine has been available since 1970. It is made from an attenuated (ie live) virus, which has been grown on human diploid cells. These cells were cultivated from a sample of foetal lung tissue obtained 30 years ago. The vaccine also contains neomycin sulphate, lactose, sorbitol, Dextran 10 and amino acids.
Initially the vaccine was given to pre-pubertal girls and women shown to have no antibodies. It was decided to combine the vaccine into the MMR and give it as part of the childhood programme to try to interrupt the circulation of rubella. After the introduction of the MMR in 1988, there was an initial decline in reported cases of rubella, but there was an increase in 1993, particularly amongst men at college, but also in pregnant women.
Adverse Reactions to Vaccination
Adverse effects from the Rubella vaccine are numerous. Symptoms appear 1-3 weeks after vaccination. They include fever, sore throat, lymphadenopathy, thrombocytopenia, arthritis and Guillain-Barré syndrome (muscle paralysis, sensory nerve defects). Joint symptoms are more common in women, between 10% and 40% of women develop joint pain and acute arthritis following vaccination. Chronic persistent arthritis can occur following both natural Rubella infection and Rubella vaccination. Arthritis persisting for at least 2-7 years has been reported following Rubella vaccination.
Contraindications to Vaccination
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Pregnancy or breast-feeding
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Febrile illness
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Within 3 months of administration of immunoglobulin
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Within 3 weeks of BCG vaccination
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Previous reaction to neomycin and/or polymyxin, the vaccine may contain traces
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People receiving immuno-suppressive treatment or high dose corticosteroids