Rubella Eradication: Not Yet Accomplished, but Entirely Feasible

Abstract

Rubella virus is the most teratogenic virus known to science and is capable of causing large epidemics. The RA 27/3 rubella vaccine, usually combined with measles vaccine, has eliminated rubella and congenital rubella syndrome from much of the world, notably from the Western Hemisphere. Except in immunosuppressed individuals, it is remarkably safe. Together with rubella vaccine strains used in China and Japan, eradication of the rubella virus is possible, indeed more feasible than eradication of measles or mumps.

Investing in global measles and rubella elimination is needed to avert deaths and advance health equity

“…5 It has therefore been previously argued that eliminating rubella may be more feasible in the near-term than eliminating measles, and that anticipated rapid progress with rubella elimination could spur measles elimination forward. 6 This work may convince the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions-both with high burdens of congenital rubella syndrome-of the necessity to establish rubella elimination goals and to accelerate the introduction of rubella-containing vaccine in those countries that have not yet done so. Second, this work demonstrates the evident need for intensified investments to drive reductions in measles and rubella morbidity and mortality, in order to achieve the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) impact goal of averting 50 million deaths during 2021-30.…”

Rubella Virus Infections: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Scientific Literature from 2000 to 2021

“…Approximately 30% of the global population remains unvaccinated against RuV and is at risk of infection [ 6 ]. RuV is a contagious airborne virus that causes asymptomatic, mild, or severe illness that manifests as fever, lymphadenopathies, and generalized skin rashes [ 7 ].…”

Epidemiological characteristic of rubella by age group during 12 years after the national introduction of rubella vaccine in Hangzhou, China

“… 1 Rubella virus (RV) has a significant potential for teratogenicity. 2 If RV infection occurs during the first 4 months of pregnancy, it can be transmitted across the placenta, causing fetal infection and resulting in spontaneous miscarriage, stillbirth, and a spectrum of birth abnormalities known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).…”

“…3 The number of rubella cases fell sharply from 670 894 to 26,006 between 2000 and 2018, but due to the large epidemics in China and Japan, the number of cases increased to more than 30,000 in 2019, and approximately 100 000 CRS cases were estimated to occur annually in 92 low- and middle-income countries now. 2 In 2015, the Pan American Health Organization declared that rubella and CRS had been eliminated from the WHO Americas region, 4 which demonstrated that rubella vaccination might successfully prevent RV infection and further reduced rubella and CRS. As of July 2020, 84 of the 195 (43%) WHO member states had been verified achieving rubella elimination; 173 member states had initiated rubella vaccination, and the global coverage rates of both MCV2 and rubella vaccines had reached 71%.…”