Rubella shots.....for me

[mbear]

Whilst preg with #2 i was told i have low rubella. I am still breastfeedin, but was wondering if i should go and get a shot - will this affect bubs? I havent really researched into what rubella does (ie what is worst scenario if i dont get a shot) I know you are unable to conceive for 3 months after the injection....mmmmmm.

[visitor2]

mbear I have to have mine done after this baby. Hopefully someone will be able to answer your questions if not ask your GP they should be able to give you all the information that you need.

[Lucy]

Mine was really low (ie zero) during my pg with Charlie and my OB told me to get the vaccination done after I had had Charlie, but I never got round to it, and then fell pg again, so totally freaked. Basically if your immunity is low, the risk is that you may contract German Measles, which can in turn have an impact on an unborn baby, especially in the early stages of a pregnancy, from memory, things like miscarriage, still birth, brain damage, deafness, vision problems, or heart problems. This is called Congenital Rubella Syndrome. The risks of any of these things are highter in the first tri, & reduce in the 2nd tri, and are minimal in the 3rd tri.

I am not sure though, whether you can get the imunisation if you are BF.......if I were you, I'd get an appt with your GP to ask their advice.

[*Rae*]

When i was preg with dd they discovered i was also really low on Rubella so a few days after she was born they gave me a shot in hosp...and i was and still is b/f.

[EllyBoo72]

If you have been immunized for Rubella, before falling pregnant, does this mean that if you come into contact with someone that has it, your unborn baby will not be affected?
(Sorry if Dumb question, bit confused)

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

If you're immune, your immune system should kill the rubella before it comes into contact with the baby, but it's still best to avoid it. It's not a dumb question - you're immune, but the baby isn't, so I'd still suggest caution (as do The Rules over here in the UK). However, as you need to contract rubella before the foetus can have it, your immunity is important.

I'm not sure if the disease will pass into the breast milk, though the antibodies will, so having the jab whilst BFing should be OK, but don't quote me on that! Isn't the shot the dead rubella anyway?

[EllyBoo72]

Thanks for clearing that up for me Ryn! Does make sense

[Beckibee]

It's definately ok to be getting the shot post-birth and whilst breastfeeding. Everytime I go to the GP, they know I'm still breastfeeding Maddy and each time they ask me whether I need to get the immunisation (MMR jab). I had it the day after Maddy was born whilst still in hospital.

[Deejoy17]

Becka - That`s great to know that you can have the Rubella injection while b/fing.

I have no immunity to rubella with this pregnancy and I was worried about the injection while b/fing, glad I know I can still have it.

Take Care

Dee

[Beckibee]

Dee, just to double check, I had a look on some medical sites and found this article (I have copied the relevent portion):

Protecting women against rubella: Guidance on the use of MMR vaccine

Main Category: Pregnancy News
Article Date: 31 May 2004 - 22:00pm (PDT)


HOW LONG SHOULD A WOMAN AVOID BECOMING PREGNANT AFTER RECEIVING MMR VACCINE?

Because of the known association between wild rubella virus and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), there is a theoretical risk that rubella vaccine could cause CRS. The possibility that rubella vaccine could cause CRS has been carefully studied and the results are very reassuring that nobody has found any evidence that MMR vaccine can cause congenital rubella syndrome.

Nevertheless, women are advised to avoid pregnancy for one month after receiving a rubella-containing vaccine. This advice is the same in the UK and the US.

BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD I SHOULD WAIT FOR 3 MONTHS BEFORE GETTING PREGNANT.

The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) carried out a review recently of data from the US, UK, Sweden and Germany on 680 live births to susceptible women who were inadvertently vaccinated either 3 months before or during the early weeks of pregnancy with rubella vaccine. They found that none of the infants were born with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Following this review, ACIP changed their guidance of avoiding pregnancy following MMR vaccine from 3 months to 28 days in 2001 , 6. The UK has recommended a one-month interval since 1996. The Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) for some MMR vaccines may still recommend that a 3 month gap be left between MMR vaccine and becoming pregnant but the UK and US advice is the most up to date and should be followed.

I AM TRYING FOR A BABY AND I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE BEEN VACCINATED FOR RUBELLA. CAN I ASK MY GP OR CLINIC FOR A TEST?

Yes, you can ask your GP or clinic for a test to check your rubella antibodies before becoming pregnant. This is a wise move particularly if you can't remember if you've been vaccinated. But if you don't have rubella antibodies and need a dose of MMR, make sure that you avoid getting pregnant for one month after the jab.

I AM PREGNANT - IF MY 13 MONTH OLD CHILD HAS THE MMR VACCINE, AM I PUTTING MY BABY AT RISK FROM THE DISEASES FROM THE LIVE VACCINES?

It is not possible for anyone to catch any of the diseases that the vaccine protects against from a child recently immunised with MMR. So both you and your unborn baby are quite safe.

CAN BREAST-FEEDING WOMEN BE GIVEN MMR VACCINE?

MMR vaccine can be given to breast-feeding mothers without any risk to their baby. Very occasionally rubella vaccine virus has been found in breast milk but this has not caused any symptoms in the baby 7, 8, 9. The vaccine does not work when taken orally. There is no evidence of mumps and measles vaccine viruses being found in breast milk.

DOESN'T MMR VACCINATION CAUSE AUTISM?

There is no credible evidence of a link between MMR and autism - and there is an ever-increasing body of research which shows no evidence of a link.

The World Health Organisation describes MMR as a "highly effective vaccine which has an outstanding safety record".

CAN MMR VACCINE BE ADMINISTERED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH ANTI-RHO (D) (ANTIBODY THAT IS GIVEN TO RHESUS NEGATIVE WOMEN) AFTER GIVING BIRTH?

Yes. It may be administered at the same time as rubella vaccine provided that separate syringes are used. The low dose of anti-Rho (D) globulin has been shown not to interfere with rubella vaccine, 10. Similarly as MMR is now the recommended vaccine the same advice applies, as issued by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in February 2002, 11. If not given simultaneously, it should be given 3 months after anti-Rho (D).

HOW IS MMR VACCINE MADE?

MMR vaccine is made from live, but weakened measles, mumps and rubella viruses. The weakened viruses are grown either in chick embryo tissue cultures (mumps and measles) or in the human diploid cell line MRC-5 before being extensively purified, removing all traces of the cells. The viruses are then dried to a powder. The final product, in addition to the viruses, contains amino acids, human albumin, lactose, mannitol and sorbitol. It may also contain trace amounts of neomycin. The vaccine is suspended in sterile water before injection.

This article comes from the UK Department of Health

References

1 - Chu SY et al. Rubella antibody persistence after immunisation. JAVA 1988: 259; 3133-6
2 - O'Shea et al. Persistence of rubella antibody 8-18 years after vaccination. BMJ 1984:288; 1043
3 - Morse D et al. Outbreak of measles in a teenage school population: the need to immunise susceptible adolescents. Epidemiol Infect. 1994 Oct;113(2):355-65 Epidemiol Infect. 1994 ;113:355-65
4 - Fescharek R et al. Measles-mumps vaccination in the FRG: an empirical analysis after 14 years of use. Efficacy and analysis of vaccine failure. Vaccine 1990: 8; 333-6.
5 - Calvert et al. Commun Dis Rep CDR Rev. 1994 27;4(6):R70-3
6 - MMWR weekly December 14,2001/50(49); 1117
7 - Buimovici-Klein E et al, Isolation of rubella virus in milk after postpartum immunization. J Pediatr 91:939-943, 1977.
8 - Landes RD et al. Neonatal rubella following postpartum maternal immunisation. J Pediatr 97:465-467, 1980.
9 - Losonsky GA et al. Effect of immunization against rubella on lactation products. Development and characterization of specific immunologic reactivity in breast-milk J Infect Dis 145:654-660, 1982.
10 - Black et al. 1983. Post-partum rubella immunisation: a controlled trial of two vaccines. Lancet 29;2(8357);990-2). 11 - www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/genrec.rtf