Refresher on rubella
====================

* Michelle Greiver

The authors of a recent public health column in *CMAJ* state that “women of childbearing age should be given rubella vaccine unless they have proof of immunity, and they should be advised to avoid pregnancy for 3 months after vaccination.”1 However, a public health document cited in the column states that “women of childbearing age should be advised to avoid pregnancy for 1 month after immunization. This recommendation is based on the duration of viremia after natural infection and evidence of vaccine safety.”

I recently saw a patient who tested negative for rubella antibodies at her first visit. When recalled for a measles, mumps and rubella vaccination, she told me that she wanted to have a child and did not want to wait too long before trying to conceive. I thought a 3-month wait was required but found the 1-month recommendation2 when I double-checked the requirement.

## REFERENCES

1.  1. Weir E, Sider D. A refresher on rubella. CMAJ 2005;172(13):1680-1.
    
    [FREE Full Text](http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiRlVMTCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6NDoiY21haiI7czo1OiJyZXNpZCI7czoxMToiMTcyLzEzLzE2ODAiO3M6NDoiYXRvbSI7czoyNDoiL2NtYWovMTczLzExLzEzNTkuMS5hdG9tIjt9czo4OiJmcmFnbWVudCI7czowOiIiO30=) 

2.  2. Vaccine preventable diseases — rubella. Ottawa: Immunization and Respiratory Infections Division, Public Health Agency; 2002. Available: [www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/dird-dimr/vpd-mev/rubella\_e.html](http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/dird-dimr/vpd-mev/rubella_e.html) (accessed 2005 Oct 14).