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Decline In Vaccination Could Lead To Resurgence Of Rubella

Surveillance of congenital rubella in Great Britain, 1971-96

Uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has declined since 1995 because of public anxiety about the safety of the vaccine. In this week's BMJ Pat Tookey and Professor Catherine Peckham from the Institute of Child Health in London report that if high uptake of the rubella vaccine is not maintained a resurgence of the disease could be seen in the UK. The authors remind readers of the potentially devastating effects of rubella infection and warn pregnant women that an ‘immune' result after a routine antenatal test, does not necessarily preclude any recent or current infection. They say that any symptoms or suspected exposure in the first four months of pregnancy should be investigated.

Contact:

Ms Pat Tookey, Co-ordinator of National Congenital Rubella Surveillance Programme, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute of Child Health, London Email: ptookey@ich.ucl.ac.uk

or

Professor Catherine Peckham (Thursday)
Email: cpeckham@ich.ucl.ac.uk

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