Rubella

[em1126]

For those of you who were tested for rubella immmunity at your preconception visit, did anybody not have immunity and have to get the shot again? Just curious.

[tenofcups]

I've actually had rubella, but when they tested, it came up that I didn't have immunity to it. I don't really understand how that's possible! At any rate, I decided not to get the vax against it. First I was going to, but I couldn't find any vax that was just rubella; all I could find was the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella). Based on my own body and the way I've reacted to things over the past several years, I decided not to get the vax and take my chances that if I get pregnant, I will not be exposed to rubella.

I'm not advocating that for anyone else; just saying my experience and my decision.

[missy329]

I found out while I was pregnant that I did not have the rubella immunity. My Dr was not too concerned as you don't see a lot of rubella cases any more. I did get the vax again after I had the baby. If I recall correctly there was a thread on this a while back and someone said that the immunity lasts for like 30 years- so for some of us "older" moms our immunity may have worn off.

[BTB]

My Dr was not too concerned as you don't see a lot of rubella cases any more.

That's true, rubella's not the common disease it once was. But to say there's no point in rubella vaccination because you don't see much rubella anymore is like saying there's no point ever going back to the grocery store again because there's plenty of food in the house, KWIM?

A quote from the WHO on a rubella epidemic in the US our parents, and some of us, remember:

The United States epidemic in 1964–1965 resulted in an estimated 12.5 million cases of rubella, over 2000 cases of encephalitis, in excess of 11,250 abortions (medical term for the end of a pregnancy, in this usage means "miscarriage"), over 20,000 cases of CRS (congenital rubella syndrome, a constellation of birth defects related to maternal infection during pregnancy), over 11,000 cases of deafness, 3580 blind children and 1800 children with mental retardation.

From http://www.who.int/vaccines/en/rubella.shtml

[Neen]

I had to have a shot after I had my daughter back in 1990. Then I had another one about 2 years later. I was tested for imunity last year and was not immune, so I had to have ANOTHER MMR shot last year. I just got a note from the employee health nurse they are now requiring all employees to have the second MMR shot so I'll have to have another next Monday. It just ticks me off! (If I don't get the shot I will not be able to work. I work PRN at a hospital).

[missy329]

That's true, rubella's not the common disease it once was. But to say there's no point in rubella vaccination because you don't see much rubella anymore is like saying there's no point ever going back to the grocery store again because there's plenty of food in the house, KWIM?



Oh, I didn't mean that I was against the vax. I just meant that my Dr was not too concerned about me contracting rubella while I was pg due to the fact that you don't see a lot of cases of it any more. And since I didn't find out about my lack of immunity until I was already pg I couldn't get the shot then. I did get the shot as soon as I had the baby.

[Robyn's Nest]

I was not rubella immune. We found out after our blood test to get married. My father in law is a pediatrician so he was freaking out over us getting pregnant and me not being immune. He got the rubella shot from a gyn doctor and gave it to me. Thankfully it took b/c it hurt like a mo-fo. I'm a big ole baby though :)

[RubberSoul]

I was tested when I had my annual physical since I knew we would be TTC soon. I found out that I was not immune even though I had the MMR shot a few years earlier. DH and I got pregnant prior to me getting reimmunized so I will have to get the shot after the baby is born.

[hmbay]

I had to have it again before we started to TTC. Luckily at my annual I mentioned to my OBGYN that I was probably going to be TTC before I saw her again in a year so she told me to take folic acid and a multi-vitamin, refrain from smoking, drinking and caffeine and then tested me for rubella immunity. When it came back negative she had me come in for a shot. I think you had to wait so long to TTC after the shot but I'm not positive on that.

[em1126]

For those of you who did not have immunity when you got pregnant or were getting ready to TTC, had you had the immunization when you were a baby? Also, if you feel comfortable sharing, how old were you when it was determined you were not immune? Thanks!

[missy329]

Yep- had the shot as a baby. I was 34 when I was pg and told I was not immune.

[tenofcups]

I didn't have the shot as a kid since I'd already had rubella -- as a baby so it's likely that it was during that period in 1964-65 that BTB posted about (I was born in 1963). I don't remember exactly when I was tested but sometime in the past year or two, so after 40 or so years, I apparently don't have immunity.

For me, timing was another factor in my decision. If I recall correctly, you're not supposed to TTC for 3 months or so afterwards and at my age (just now turned 43), those 3 months could be critical. I weighed my odds of decreasing my ability to conceive with each month that passes vs. the likelihood of being exposed to rubella and decided I'd take my chances...

Again, not trying to encourage anyone to make that decision; just explaining my personal reasons.

[BTB]

If I recall correctly, you're not supposed to TTC for 3 months or so afterwards

That recommendation was changed in October 2001. The recommended waiting period to conceive after rubella vaccination, from an evidence-based standpoint, is 28 days.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5049a5.htm

[kischer]

I had the shot when I was younger, I'm not sure what age. They said it's generally before you start elementary school. So, let's say around 79-80. I went to be tested for my preconception visit, 27 at the time, and I was not immune. I did not want to get the immunization because it meant that we would have to put TTCing off for a few months. After 2 years of no luck TTCing, I went to the RE and they made me. :rolleyes: Now, I am immune and pregnant. Yeah! I hope that helps! Good Luck!