In recent years, heated debate has constantly arisen about whether mass rubella vaccinations are needed or not.
Rubella is a viral disease that, when a virus enters the human body, causes damage to the lymphatic system, skin, and mucous membranes. It is characterized by a slight temperature increase, a mild rash and an increase in all lymph nodes, which disappears with virtually no consequences in three to four days. The source of infection is always a sick person or a virus carrier in the last days of the incubation period, which is usually 11-21 days. Even without treatment, the disease goes away on its own in two to three days, leaving a lasting lifelong immunity.
A stumbling block in the question: do we need vaccinations against rubella or not is the fact that a disease that is potentially not dangerous for humans and does not threaten the development of complications causes the development of congenital malformations in the fetus. When a pregnant woman becomes infected during pregnancy, especially in her first trimester, a spontaneous abortion occurs or a child is born with congenital rubella syndrome, which includes congenital heart defects, cataracts, deafness and severe neuropsychic development. Therefore, in case of a disease of a rubella pregnant woman, in the event that a double serological examination determines an increase in antibody titer, the question of vaccinating measles rubella mumps is raised in the early stages of pregnancy . Pregnancy is less dangerous in the first three months after a rubella vaccine is given, in which case contraception during this period is recommended after vaccination .
Rubella vaccinations are carried out according to the order of the Ministry of Health at this age:
- at the age of 12 months - vaccination against measles, rubella, mumps;
- at the age of 6 years - vaccination against rubella, measles, mumps before entering school
- at the age of 13 years - rubella vaccination for girls who have not previously had rubella;
- at the age of 18 -25 years - rubella vaccination is carried out among girls and women who have not previously been ill and who have no information about the vaccination in the medical court.
Proponents of mass rubella vaccines cite the fact that in the 70-80 years of the last century (at the time when the masses of children were vaccinated), the number of diseases in pregnant women with rubella was very small. Currently, due to interruptions in the delivery of the vaccine and the missed deadline for vaccination, due to the refusal of parents to vaccinate in children at 1 year old and at 6 years old, the percentage of women of childbearing age who have antibodies against rubella virus in their blood is gradually getting lower and below. These arguments are used by opponents of mass vaccination in their campaign to abandon the use of vaccination nationwide. Rubella vaccine , according to some experts, is carried out by an inadequate quality vaccine that has not been certified in our country and is not accompanied by proper medical supervision of the vaccination process itself (no physical examination and thermometry prior to vaccination, an allergic history is not studied). In addition, a number of studies have noted a low titer of antibodies in the blood of vaccinated children, which does not exclude the possibility of disease after the entire volume, which is provided for by the rubella vaccination calendar, is fulfilled. The human factor is also superimposed on this - if children aged 1 to 13 years old can be “driven” for vaccination from under a stick, then most women over this age are reluctant to be vaccinated.
In our society, where everyone has the right to the fullness of all possible information, each woman must decide for herself whether it is worth the risk of getting rubella during pregnancy, if she had not previously had this childhood infection, or if she should check for blood antibodies and get rubella shots when planning a pregnancy.