Rubella screening and vaccination programme at a Melbourne maternity hospital

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Abstract
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.