children s health issues
Rubella
Prevention of Rubella
MMR vaccine There is no longer a separate vaccine just for rubella. The Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine is a combination vaccine that contains live but weakened measles, mumps, and rubella viruses. The MMR vaccine is one of the Two doses of MMR vaccine are routinely recommended. The first dose is given between 12 months and 15 months of age but can be given to children as young as 6 months during a measles outbreak or before international travel. The second dose is given between 4 years and 6 years of age. Children who were less than 1 year of age when immunized still need 2 more doses after their first birthday. cause autism (see Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Vaccine: Concerns about Autism ). The MMR vaccine generally provides lasting immunity. MMR is a live vaccine and is not given during pregnancy. Pregnant people who are not immune should avoid anyone who has rubella. Although MMR vaccine cannot be given during pregnancy, it can be given immediately after birth to people who are not immune so that they will be immune during any future pregnancies. People who were vaccinated during childhood who want to become pregnant may have blood tests to confirm immunity because some people do not develop immunity after that first vaccination. Once immunity is confirmed, people do not need to be tested again before subsequent pregnancies. To prevent passing on the infection to a fetus, unvaccinated people who could become pregnant should receive one dose of the MMR vaccine and then wait 4 weeks before trying to conceive. For more information about who should and who should not receive the MMR vaccine, see Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine . See also 