rubella
British medical journal retracts study linking MMR vaccine to autism
CBC News February 2010: A medical journal in Britain retracted a controversial study it published in 1998 that linked the use of a vaccine in children to autism...Read more
Did you know?
Rubella infection in pregnant women is dangerous.
Evidence showing MMR does not cause austism
About the vaccine
The rubella vaccine is combined with the mumps and measles vaccine (MMR vaccine), so a person can receive protection from several diseases with one shot. The MMR vaccine is effective in preventing disease caused by these viruses in up to 95 percent of recipients after one dose. It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get measles, mumps or rubella (german measles).
For more information about the vaccine, who should get it, the benefits and possible reactions, read our BC HealthFile:
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Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine (14a) Two shots are given to children at 12 and 18 months of age. The vaccine is given at the same time as other childhood immunizations.
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The MMR vaccine is free and recommended for adults who have never had meales, mumps or rubella or received the vaccine. If you haven't had the MMR vaccine, book an appointment with your doctor or local health provider.
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About the disease
- Rubella (German Measles) is an acute disease caused by a virus.
Its symptoms are fever, rash, and swollen glands that usually last 2-3 days. Most cases are mild.- The rash, which may be itchy, begins first on the face and then moves downwards from head to foot, and lasts about three days. About half of all rubella infections show no symptoms of a rash.
- Rubella is spread by contact with an infected person, through coughing and sneezing
- A person with rubella is contagious and can spread the disease to others, from seven days before to seven days after the rash first appears.
- Rubella infection in pregnant women is dangerous. If a pregnant woman who has no protection against rubella is infected, she may have a miscarriage or stillbirth, or the baby may be born with severe abnormalities. A pregnant woman who does not know if she is immune to rubella should be tested during her pregnancy, and if not immune, should be vaccinated after the birth of her baby
- There is now less childhood rubella disease in BC because of routine childhood vaccinations programs
- For more information on this disease, see the rubella vaccine (14d) HealthFile
- More vaccine preventable disease images.
- Annual Summary of Reportable Diseases
Photos courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
