Rubella was a common disease of childhood prior to the introduction of rubella vaccine in 1969. Rubella is a mild disease, but if a pregnant person becomes infected the virus may affect all organs of the fetus and cause a variety of congenital defects, including hearing loss, eye defects, heart defects, and intellectual disability. Fortunately, rubella was declared eliminated from the United States in 2004, and from all of North and South America, in 2016. However, rubella still circulates in many other countries and travelers who are not immune to rubella may become infected.

Two doses of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine are recommended. Children should get their first dose of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine at 12–15 months of age and the second dose at 4–6 years of age. Students (including college students), health care workers, and international travelers should receive two doses of MMR vaccine.

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Outbreaks

Child care facilities with low vaccination rates are at increased risk for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Lookup vaccination rates:

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