Can J Infect Dis. Peltola H, Karanko V, Kurki T, Hukkanen V, Virtanen M, Penttinen K et al. Rapid effect on endemic measles, mumps and rubella of nationwide vaccination programme in Finland. Rational use of rubella vaccine for prevention of congenital rubella syndrome in the Americas. Unlike measles and mumps vaccinations, which aim specifically to prevent these diseases and their complications in those who are vaccinated, rubella vaccination is primarily aimed at those yet to be born.
Rubella vaccination is justifiable solely on the grounds that it can prevent congenital rubella.
It has been shown to have a significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of congenital rubella. Development of rubella vaccines Soon after the rubella virus was first isolated in tissue culture in 1962, several live-attenuated vaccine strains were developed. Vaccine is not usually given to infants under the age of 1 year as persisting maternal antibodies are likely to interfere with seroconversion. In 1984, the WHO Regional Committee for Europe set the target for the elimination of congenital rubella from the region by the year 2000. Experience from Finland indicates that the vaccination of teenagers and young adults is needed to fill the immunity gaps in the first 15 years of such a childhood immunization programme.