Publication
Rubella: your questions answered
I have recently arrived in the UK, and don't think that MMR or rubella vaccinations were offered in my country of birth. What should I do?
Not every country offers MMR or rubella vaccination and the advice is that you should have MMR. If you haven’t had MMR before, then you should have 2 doses, with the second dose 3 months after the first dose. You should avoid getting pregnant for one month after your MMR vaccinations are completed.
To get rid of rubella, the chain of infection must be broken. Most pregnant women who catch rubella have done so from young children or boys and young men who have not been immunised. This is why all children are now offered immunisation with MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine at around 13 months old and again when they start school. This means there will be far less chance of catching rubella. Eventually the disease will disappear in this country and there will be no more babies born with congenital rubella.
Until then, make sure that you are protected against rubella before you get pregnant. And, if you have young children, make sure they are immunised.