Rubella Vaccine

[Ceres]

When is this shot given where you live? I am particularly interested in the age at which this is given outside North America. Is it given to babies or not until puberty? If given at puberty, is it given to both boys and girls?

[HorseCrow]

They get a shot at 15 months and again at 12 years.

[Amethyst Rose]

Here they get it at 18 months and 12 years, if I remember correctly. How come you're interested? Oh, and yes, it's given to both boys and girls.

[Rhianna813]

I have done some vaccine research and here is a link to a comparison chart for Japan and US for 2002. Japan's schedule is more conservative and considered very effective. I have also heard it's similar to some in European.

http://www.vaclib.org/basic/japanusa.htm

Looks like it's recommended between the ages of 1-3. It makes no mention for gender. But I do notice it's given alone and not in conjunction with other vaccines.

Rhianna

[Ceres]

I am asking because there is a rubella outbreak near here and I choose not to vaccinate my children with MMR. I saw reference somewhere to a place where the rubella vaccine was given to girls at puberty and I wondered if that was typical or unusual.

[Rhianna813]

I am asking because there is a rubella outbreak near here and I choose not to vaccinate my children with MMR. I saw reference somewhere to a place where the rubella vaccine was given to girls at puberty and I wondered if that was typical or unusual.

Hmmmm well I know most vaccines are given in early childhood because they feel babies and kids are more at risk. Usually the only reason a vaccine is offered later in life is in the case where the child did not get the immunity naturally. Is Rubella particularly harmful to a female's reproductive system? Maybe that is why they give it to girls at puberty.

Also we plan to get the vaccines separately if we can. Maybe you can order a Rubella only shot from your doctor if want to go down that route.

Rhianna

[Amethyst Rose]

OKay, I went back and looked at my sons vaccination schedule. He was given the rubella vaccination at 12 months, and is due to get it again some time between 4 and 6 years of age. It makes no mention of getting it again, after that, but I know I was given it when I was in late elementary school, so some time between 10 and 12. Maybe they changed it.

Oh, and it is given in conjunction with other vaccinations, in my son's case it was given with the measles and mumps vaccination.

[Amethyst Rose]

Is Rubella particularly harmful to a female's reproductive system? Maybe that is why they give it to girls at puberty.



While Rubella (German measles) is not particularily harmful to adults or children (fever, rash, etc.), if a pregnant woman contracts it it can cause birth defects and misscarriage, that's why it is suggested that girls take the vaccine before puberty.

[Rhianna813]

While Rubella (German measles) is not particularily harmful to adults or children (fever, rash, etc.), if a pregnant woman contracts it it can cause birth defects and misscarriage, that's why it is suggested that girls take the vaccine before puberty.

Ahhhhh that is why it would be more important for a girl to get vaccinated over a boy. As far I as know i had all required vaccines when growing up but when I had my blood work done while pregnant I shown "inconclusive" for rubella. But since I had never heard of an outbreak in our area we opted to not get the vaccine while pregnant.

Rhianna

[Ceres]

Ahhhhh that is why it would be more important for a girl to get vaccinated over a boy. As far I as know i had all required vaccines when growing up but when I had my blood work done while pregnant I shown "inconclusive" for rubella. But since I had never heard of an outbreak in our area we opted to not get the vaccine while pregnant.

Rhianna

So many women are in the same boat - at risk for rubella while pregnant because their vaccine has worn off by the time they are having children.

[RhiamonButterfly]

My son just got his MMR at 12 months...I had to have it once when I forst found out I was pregnant, and once afterwards because my chart was still saying "inconclusive"...dunno what happened.

[Kalika]

Do you mean the MMR?

I used to work in public health... don't remember for sure, but I think its between 12-15 months, if not sooner.