Pregnancy outcome following rubella vaccination: A prospective controlled study

Abstract

The rubella virus is a potent human teratogen. Because the rubella vaccine is prepared with live virus, a high level of anxiety surrounds exposure in pregnancy. There is relatively scarce data on fetal risk following vaccination in pregnancy, and all of the available data were collected retrospectively. Our objective was to examine whether periconceptional exposure to rubella vaccine can cause the congenital rubella syndrome, and to compare the rate of major malformations and developmental milestones among offspring of women who received rubella vaccine 3 months pre- or post-conception to an unexposed comparison group. We collected prospectively and followed up 94 women who received rubella vaccination 3 months pre- or post-conception and a comparison group that consisted of 94 women who were counseled during pregnancy in a similar manner but were not exposed to known teratogens. The controls were matched for age, smoking, alcohol, and drug use. Not any of the women exposed to the vaccine gave birth to a child with congenital rubella syndrome. Rates of major malformations were similar in both groups as were birth weights and developmental milestones. In contrast, the rate of therapeutic abortions was higher in the exposed group (7.4% vs. 0%) (P < 0.05), due to fears of teratogenicity. We conclude that rubella vaccination in pregnancy does not appear to affect pregnancy outcome in general or cause congenital rubella syndrome in particular.

Congenital rubella syndrome after rubella vaccination in 1–4 weeks periconceptional period

“…9, 10, 11 In a prospective controlled study Barroz examined 94 pregnant women vaccinated within three month of conception and found no signs of clinical CRS at birth and on 6 months follow up in newborns. 18 Currently, The CDC has decreased the pregnancy prevention interval following rubella vaccination from 3 months to one month. 12 Our study was performed on 60 referred pregnant women inadvertently vaccinated at the most critical time, based on CDC guidelines (1-4 wk periconceptional period).…”

Vacinação contra rubéola em mulheres em idade reprodutiva no Município de Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil

“…Aspectos culturais e étnicos também estiveram associados a diferenças de coberturas vacinais contra sarampo, caxumba e rubéola em crianças, em países europeus 20,21 . Como todas as vacinas de vírus atenuado, a da rubéola é contraindicada durante a gestação pelo risco teórico de causar danos ao feto, embora nunca se tenha registrado efeitos teratogêni-cos 22 , ou em qualquer situação de imunossupressão ou alergia a componentes da vacina. Nas pessoas com imunodeficiências deve-se avaliar o risco/benefício individual 3,23 .…”

Vaccines and immunoglobulins

“…In a number of studies, data were analyzed covering more than 4,000 women who had been vaccinated from 3 months prior to conception and up to pregnancy. Data were collected from women in Germany, Sweden, England, Latin America, Iran and North America, some of them were already seropositive (Soares 2011, Nasiri 2009, Namaei 2008, Badilla 2007, Hamkar 2006, Enders 2005, Bar-Oz 2004. There were no cases of CRS after inadvertent exposure to rubella vaccine shortly before or during pregnancy, nor was there an association with other adverse effects.…”