[Effect of vaccination on immune status in pregnancy]

A sample of 224 pregnant women, divided into two groups, i.e. those vaccinated and non-vaccinated, were tested for antibodies to the rubella virus using the ELISA test with the aim of assessing the level of their immunity to this infectious disease, and consequently, to determine the level of residual risk of possible consequences of this infection for their children (CRE). Statistically significant difference was observed in more pregnant women in the group of those vaccinated compared to the non-vaccinated group, although both groups showed high immunity level. Furthermore, it was observed that the immunity of vaccinated pregnant women decreased over time starting from the vaccination date. Both of these observations have indicated that the intensity of the rubella virus circulation in a given area was decreasing, which was proved also by the official statistics on the infection trends. Such a conclusion has been reached also by the observation that there was a statistically significant difference in the mean values of antibody level between the vaccinated and non-vaccinated pregnant women, while the differences according to various and different factors of exposition (occupation, number of pregnancies, urban/rural residence) were not observed. In conclusion, it could be stated that the immunity level of the tested pregnant women--and which could be extrapolated with a high probability percentage to the entire population of pregnant women in Croatia, both vaccinated and non-vaccinated--is very high. However, since the rubella virus is still found either sporadically or in an epidemic in a broader area, and could reappear in a given area without any obstacles, it is necessary to maintain high immunity level, and that would be achieved by high vaccination rate of a certain population.