People who get rubella can have a mild fever, swollen glands in the neck, a rash that lasts up to three days, and soreness or swelling in the joints. This soreness or swelling usually lasts for a week or two. In rare cases, it may last for months or years, and may come and go. The pain and swelling are more likely to occur in women. If a pregnant woman gets rubella, it is very dangerous to her unborn baby.
Babies born with rubella can have heart disease, be blind or deaf, or have learning problems.
Hib disease can cause a swelling of the brain that can lead to developmental disability, hearing loss, weakened sight, or speech problems. Before the Hib vaccine was available, Hib infected one of every 200 children before age five. It is most dangerous for babies under age one. In the United States, more than 240,000 people get this disease every year, more than one million people have hepatitis B and can give it to other people, and about 6,000 people die from it every year. Tetanus makes a person unable to open his or her mouth or swallow, and causes serious muscle spasms.