The history of rubella vaccination
Rubella vaccination after the birth
About the rubella vaccine
NOTE: Before reading about the rubella vaccine, you should be aware of the terms 'vaccination' and 'immunisation'. While these terms are often used interchangeably, there is a difference in their meanings.
Vaccination refers to an injection of a substance that is aimed at setting up an 'immune response' in a person's body to protect them against an infectious virus, or disease. A vaccination does not always guarantee 'immunity' - as some people can be vaccinated but still not develop a 'protection', or immunity, against the infection. Whereas 'immunisation' is the body's successful 'response' to being vaccinated.
About rubella
Rubella infection during early pregnancy
Rubella (or 'German measles', also called the '3-day measles') is a milder form of the standard measles virus. The rubella virus takes about 14 to 21 days (with an average of 18 days) to 'incubate', or to show any physical signs in a person after they have been in contact with someone else who has the rubella virus. Rubella is believed not to be as infectious as other common viruses such as chicken pox or standard measles, but rubella epidemics do commonly occur, especially during the seasons of late winter to spring and early summer. Rubella is spread by direct contact and 'droplet' infection (meaning from droplets of the persons saliva or nasal secretions that become airborne if they talk to you, cough or sneeze).
A person with a rubella infection can experience: