Routine Care & Wellness

Rubella (German measles)

Prevention

There is a safe and effective vaccine to protect against rubella. The vaccine is frequently given to adults as part of a combination injection that helps protect against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).

Symptoms

Symptoms may include a rash, slight fever, aching joints, headaches, discomfort, runny nose, and reddened eyes. The rash first appears on the face and progresses from head to toe. The lymph nodes just behind the ears and at the back of the neck may swell causing soreness and pain. Many people with rubella have few or no symptoms, and only about half of the people who have the disease get rashes. In most cases of rubella, symptoms appear within 16-18 days.

Vaccine Safety

The rubella and the combined MMR vaccines are very safe. You cannot get rubella from the vaccine. The most common side effect is burning or stinging at the injection site. Other common side effects include fever, rash, headache, and general weakness. As with any medicine, there are very small risks those serious problems, even death, could occur after getting a vaccine. However, the risks from the disease are much greater than the risks from the vaccine.

Who should get MMR vaccine?

Susceptible adolescents and adults can be infected if they did not have rubella when they were children and have not been vaccinated. Those at particular risk include:

• Health-care workers.
• College and university students.
• Women of childbearing age.
• Childcare workers such as teachers and day care personnel.
• International travelers.
• Those born after 1956 who have no proof of immunity.

Facts about rubella

• Rubella can be prevented with a safe, effective vaccine.
• Most cases of rubella now occur among adults.
• You cannot get rubella from the vaccine.
• Up to 10% of young adults are susceptible to the rubella virus.
• Rubella is contagious 7 days before to 7 days after the rash appears.
• As many as 12 million women of childbearing age are susceptible to rubella.
• In most cases of rubella, symptoms appear within 16-18 days.
• If a pregnant woman gets rubella during the first 3 months of pregnancy, her baby has a good chance of having serious birth defects such as deafness, cataracts, heart defects, liver, and spleen damage, and mental retardation.

These facts about rubella are courtesy of the
National Coalition of Adult Immunization

to reach their organization, please click here for more information.