Prevention of congenital rubella syndrome in Newfoundland

• Main Author: Stratton, Ellen Elizabeth.
• Other Authors: Tannenbaum, Terry Nan (advisor)
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: McGill University 1996
• Subjects: Health Sciences; Public Health; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=27420

The Newfoundland Department of Health administers several rubella vaccination programs for the prevention of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). This study examined the effectiveness of these programs by reviewing rubella susceptibility in the population at risk for CRS, assessing the predictive value of a rubella vaccination record, and evaluating the effectiveness of the postnatal rubella vaccination program. From 1989 to 1993, rubella susceptibility in women aged 15 to 44 averaged 4.6% overall, but was significantly higher in women aged 15 to 19 years, averaging 14%. The positive predictive value of a rubella vaccination record was 92% overall, but it differed by type of vaccine product and vaccine viral strain; 99% for any monovalent rubella vaccine, compared to 81% for recipients of HPV-77 DE-5 strain MR (measles rubella) or MMR (measles mumps rubella) vaccine. The postnatal rubella vaccination program failed to provide testing for 13% of pregnant women in the province in 1992, and 10% of susceptible women in 1992 were not subsequently vaccinated. These results suggest that women of childbearing age in Newfoundland remain at risk of having children with CRS. The rubella vaccination record is not adequate proof of immunity for some of these women, and the postnatal vaccination program requires some improvement in order to prevent cases of CRS in the future.