Vaccination against Rubella of Newly Delivered Women

Seroconversion rates and antibody titre rises after vaccination of 872 ***newly delivered mothers with HPV-77 DE-5 (Meruvax), Cendehill (Cendevax) and RA 27/3 (Almevax) rubella vaccines were studied. Seroconversion was observed in non-immune women in 92, 91 and 96% for the 3 vaccines, respectively. In individuals with pre-immunization hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody titres of 20 or more significant titre rises occurred in 5, 2 and 9%, respectively. No evidence for transmission of vaccine virus from non-immune mothers to 63 breast-fed children was observed. The occurrence of side-effects was studied in 949 mothers. One of the vaccines (Almevax) caused more local reactions at the site of the vaccination than the other two. Vaccination with Meruvax was associated with significantly more joint pains and rash, the side-effects found most troublesome by the vaccinees.