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Rubella screening and vaccination programme at a Melbourne maternity hospital
Author(s) -
Francis Barbara H.,
Hatherley Lawrence I.,
Walstab Janet E.,
Taft Leon I.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1982.tb124143.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vaccination , rubella , rubella vaccine , titer , pregnancy , rubella virus , immunology , pediatrics , obstetrics , antibody , measles , biology , genetics
Antibody to rubella virus titres were measured in 7133 serum samples collected from pregnant women and nurses between 1976 and 1980. A significant decline in susceptibility to rubella was found in women under 25 years of age, but not in those over 25 years of age. Most of the former would have been vaccinated at school. One hundred and sixty of 325 women vaccinated with Cendehill vaccine (Cendevax) were subsequently retested. Two failed to develop antibodies and 19 initially “seronegative” women responded poorly. Ten of 38 women with low prevaccination titres had a significant boost in titre, and the remaining 28 showed little or no change. All 13 women who were revaccinated with RA 27/3 vaccine (Almevax) after responding poorly to Cendevax vaccination had a boost in titre; in 10, the rise was four‐fold or greater. It is disappointing that Almevax is no longer available in Australia.