rubella virus vaccine

This medication is used to help prevent infection from the rubella virus. Rubella (also known as German measles) is a common childhood infection. It may rarely cause problems in children. However, rubella infection in a pregnant woman may cause the unborn infant to die before birth or be born with physical defects. Vaccination during childhood can prevent these infections so that pregnant mothers who have never had rubella or been vaccinated are not exposed to rubella by others (e.g., their other children). The rubella virus in this vaccine is alive, but it has been weakened (attenuated) so that it has a decreased ability to cause illness. This vaccine causes the body to make immune defensive substances (antibodies) against the rubella virus so that you will be protected from this infection. The vaccine is recommended for all children 12 months and older and adults who have not already had rubella or been vaccinated.

It is important that your child receives each vaccination as scheduled. Be sure to ask when each dose should be received and make a note on a calendar to help you remember.

Read the Vaccine Information Statement available from your health care provider before receiving the vaccine. If you have any questions, consult your health care provider. This vaccine is usually given by injection under the skin by a health care professional. Children who are vaccinated for rubella at 12 months or older should have a second live-vaccine injection (measles/mumps/rubella) just before entering elementary school.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. This vaccine should not be used with medications that weaken the immune system such as: corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone doses over 7.5 milligrams a day), cancer chemotherapy, organ transplant drugs (e.g., cyclosporine, tacrolimus, mycophenolate), abatacept, efalizumab, adalimumab, infliximab. If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before receiving the rubella virus vaccine. Vaccination can be received after these medications have been stopped for 30 days. Wait at least 3 months before vaccination with rubella virus vaccine if you have received immune globulin (IG), Rho immune globulin D, or a blood/plasma transfusion. You may not develop enough antibodies to protect you from rubella infection. If you have received a tuberculosis (TB) skin test, wait until the TB test is read by medical personnel before vaccination with rubella. Other vaccines may be given at the same time as this vaccine, but they should be given with separate syringes and at different injection sites. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Keep vaccine records for all of your children, and provide them to their doctors and to your children after they are grown. This will prevent unnecessary re-vaccinations.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Before receiving rubella virus vaccine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as neomycin, gelatin), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: illness with a high fever over 101 degrees F (38 degrees C), decreased immune function from other medications (see also Drug Interactions), decreased immune function from other illness (e.g., advanced HIV/AIDS, leukemia, lymphoma, other cancer affecting the bone marrow or lymph nodes), immune problems with certain white blood cells (T-cells), low or abnormal blood antibodies (hypogammaglobulinemia, dysgammaglobulinemia), untreated tuberculosis (TB) infection. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: low blood clotting cells (platelets), HIV infection without symptoms, brain injury, seizures due to fever. This medication must not be used during pregnancy. There is some risk that it may harm an unborn baby. If you have been vaccinated with rubella virus vaccine, you should not become pregnant for at least 3 months after the vaccination. Discuss the possible risks with your doctor. The live, weakened virus in this vaccine is known to pass into breast milk. Rare cases of mild illness in nursing infants have been reported. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding. Even if your nursing infant is exposed to rubella virus from breast-feeding, he/she should still receive the vaccine at 12 months.

Not applicable. This vaccine is given in a doctor's office and will not be stored at home.

Pain/redness/swelling at the injection site may occur. Other side effects may include fever, irritability, mild swollen glands (lymph nodes), measles-like rash, hives, tiredness, sore throat, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and body aches. These rubella-like symptoms may occur 11 to 20 days after vaccination and are usually mild and temporary, often persisting 1 to 5 days. If any of these effects last longer than 5 days or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. However, report all side effects to the doctor. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: joint pain/stiffness, tingling/numbness/pain in the arms/legs, fainting. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: persistent joint pain/stiffness, easy bruising/bleeding within 2 weeks to 2 months of vaccination, swollen/painful testicles in men, inability to make muscles of the legs/arms work (paralysis), seizures, mental/mood changes (e.g., unusual behavior, severe drowsiness, stiff neck, visual sensitivity to light), decreased hearing, vision problems. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. Contact your doctor for medical advice about side effects. The following numbers do not provide medical advice, but in the US, you may report side effects to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) at 1-800-822-7967. In Canada, you may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.