Two live attenuated viral vaccines for the prevention of rubella are available in the US: a trivalent measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) and a quadrivalent measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine (MMRV). MMRV is licensed for use in people ages 12 months to ≤12 years only.[12]McLean HQ, Fiebelkorn AP, Temte JL, et al; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of measles, rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, and mumps, 2013: summary recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2013 Jun 14;62(RR-04):1-34.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6204a1.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23760231?tool=bestpractice.com
CDC: rubella vaccination
Opens in new window The RA 27/3 strain rubella component of each of these vaccines is identical. Rubella vaccines are reported to be approximately 97% effective in preventing disease after a single dose.[12]McLean HQ, Fiebelkorn AP, Temte JL, et al; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of measles, rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, and mumps, 2013: summary recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2013 Jun 14;62(RR-04):1-34.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6204a1.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23760231?tool=bestpractice.com
Although 1 dose of rubella vaccine is highly protective, 2 doses of a rubella-containing vaccine are recommended for children and adolescents because of the 2-dose recommendations for measles- and mumps-containing vaccine and to provide additional protection to people who experience primary vaccine failure.[16]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthcare professionals: child and adolescent immunization schedule by age: recommendations for ages 18 years or younger, United States. Oct 2025 [internet publication].
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/child-adolescent-age.html
Depending on age and risk of exposure, 1 or 2 doses are recommended for susceptible adults.[12]McLean HQ, Fiebelkorn AP, Temte JL, et al; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of measles, rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, and mumps, 2013: summary recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2013 Jun 14;62(RR-04):1-34.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6204a1.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23760231?tool=bestpractice.com
[17]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthcare professionals: adult immunization schedule by age: recommendations for ages 19 years or older, United States. Oct 2025 [internet publication].
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/adult-age.html
Evidence of immunity to rubella includes documentation of ≥1 dose of rubella-containing vaccine on or after the first birthday, laboratory evidence of immunity, or birth before 1957.[17]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthcare professionals: adult immunization schedule by age: recommendations for ages 19 years or older, United States. Oct 2025 [internet publication].
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/adult-age.html
Adverse reactions to MMR vaccines are infrequent. The most common adverse reactions include low-grade fever, transient rash, and lymphadenopathy.[12]McLean HQ, Fiebelkorn AP, Temte JL, et al; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of measles, rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, and mumps, 2013: summary recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2013 Jun 14;62(RR-04):1-34.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6204a1.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23760231?tool=bestpractice.com
Multiple studies have failed to demonstrate a link between MMR vaccines and autism.[18]Maglione MA, Das L, Raaen L, et al. Safety of vaccines used for routine immunization of U.S. children: a systematic review. Pediatrics. 2014 Aug;134(2):325-37.
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/134/2/325.long
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25086160?tool=bestpractice.com
[19]Hviid A, Hansen JV, Frisch M, et al. Measles, mumps, rubella vaccination and autism: a nationwide cohort study. Ann Intern Med. 2019 Apr 16;170(8):513-20.
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004407.pub4/full
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30831578?tool=bestpractice.com
[20]Di Pietrantonj C, Rivetti A, Marchione P, et al. Vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Nov 22;11:CD004407.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34806766?tool=bestpractice.com
As there is a very low incidence of mumps, measles, and rubella in the US, a health provider’s clinical diagnosis of rubella should not be considered acceptable evidence of immunity.[12]McLean HQ, Fiebelkorn AP, Temte JL, et al; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of measles, rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, and mumps, 2013: summary recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2013 Jun 14;62(RR-04):1-34.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6204a1.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23760231?tool=bestpractice.com
People at increased risk of rubella infection (healthcare professionals, educators, childcare workers) should be assessed for susceptibility to rubella and, if susceptible, should be immunized with MMR vaccine.
CDC: rubella
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Pan American Health Organization/WHO: rubella
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Nonpregnant women of childbearing age who are found to be susceptible by serologic screening or whose immunization status is undocumented should be immunized with one dose of MMR vaccine unless they are known to be pregnant.[17]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthcare professionals: adult immunization schedule by age: recommendations for ages 19 years or older, United States. Oct 2025 [internet publication].
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/adult-age.html
Routine prenatal screening for rubella immunity is recommended.[21]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rubella (German measles, three-day measles): serology testing for rubella. Jun 2024 [internet publication].
https://www.cdc.gov/rubella/php/laboratories/serology-testing.html
MMR vaccine is contraindicated during pregnancy.[17]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthcare professionals: adult immunization schedule by age: recommendations for ages 19 years or older, United States. Oct 2025 [internet publication].
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/adult-age.html
Pregnant people who do not have acceptable evidence of rubella immunity should be advised to avoid travel to countries where rubella is endemic or to areas with known rubella outbreaks, especially during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Congenital rubella syndrome is rare when infection occurs at 20 weeks of gestation or later.[22]Winter AK, Moss WJ. Rubella. Lancet. 2022 Apr 2;399(10332):1336-46.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35367004?tool=bestpractice.com
MMR vaccination should be given to susceptible women in the immediate postpartum period.[17]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthcare professionals: adult immunization schedule by age: recommendations for ages 19 years or older, United States. Oct 2025 [internet publication].
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/adult-age.html
Country-specific guidelines should be followed regarding rubella vaccination prior to travel. Vaccination is recommended for all international travelers ages ≥6 months without documented immunity.[23]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Yellow Book 2026: health information for international travel. Section 1: preparing international travelers - the pre-travel consultation. Apr 2025 [internet publication].
https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/preparing-international-travelers/the-pre-travel-consultation.html
Before departure from the US, infants ages 6-11 months should receive one dose of MMR vaccine (for measles protection), and unvaccinated children ages ≥12 months should receive two doses of MMR vaccine ≥28 days apart.[16]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthcare professionals: child and adolescent immunization schedule by age: recommendations for ages 18 years or younger, United States. Oct 2025 [internet publication].
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/child-adolescent-age.html