Duration of Immunity After Rubella Vaccination: A Long-Term Study in Switzerland

Abstract

In Switzerland 319 of 594 young women seronegative for rubella antibody vaccinated at 15-25 years of age against rubella with the Cendehill vaccine strain were retested 15 years later with three tests (hemagglutination inhibition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and a neutralization technique) for the presence of rubella antibodies. For 307 women rubella antibodies were still detectable by all three techniques. For nine women rubella antibodies were demonstrable by only one or two tests. Only three vaccinees were seronegative by all three tests. These three women also showed no booster response after challenge with the vaccine strain. The high percentage of women with persistent rubella antibodies 15 years after vaccination might be explained in part by the presence of subclinical reinfections due to a wild rubella virus.

Seroepidemiology, morbidity and vaccination strategies against rubella infection. Eight years experience in oltrepo pavese

“…Continued surveillance of these populations has shown no further decline in susceptibility to rubella infection (5,10,14,21,27,40). This observation is supported by the data of our survey in which the rubella antibody titre appears to be influenced by the natural rubella infection.…”

Rubella vaccines: past, present and future

“…In the UK it is current practice to vaccinate women with rubella antibodies < 15 i.u./ml. The PHLS Working Party on the Laboratory Diagnosis of Rubella [83] recommended that revaccination of women with a documented history of two or Rubella vaccines: past, present and future Just et al [67] 18t/400 (4 5 %) 16 Chu et al [68] 2/102 (2 %)…”

Rubella Antibody Persistence After Immunization

“…In 1985, follow-up was reinitiated to assess the long-term durability of vaccine-induced immunity. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays of serum specimens from 1290 participants demonstrated seropositive rates of 92.4% and 96.4% at screening levels of 10 (protective level) and 7 (lowest detectable level) IU/mL, respectively. The seropositive rates were not related to reinfection or reimmunizations.…”