Rubella in Poland: 2022-2023

Rubella is a viral childhood disease, usually mild, but infection during pregnancy can cause severe congenital defects. In Poland, mandatory vaccination was introduced in 1989 for girls, and since 2003 as part of the MMR vaccine for both sexes. In 2022-2023, Poland recorded the highest number of rubella cases in the WHO European Region.

To assess the epidemiological situation of rubella in Poland in 2022-2023, with emphasis on vaccination coverage and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data for the analysis of the epidemiological situation of rubella in Poland were obtained from reports submitted to the NIPH NIH - NRI by the Voivodeship Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations and published in the annual bulletins Infectious Diseases and Poisonings in Poland for 2022-2023 and Protective Vaccinations in Poland for 2022-2023, as well as from individual epidemiological case investigations recorded in the EpiBaza system. Case classification was based on the definition used in surveillance in 2022-2023.

In 2022, 147 rubella cases were reported (0.39/100,000), rising to 246 in 2023 (0.65/100,000), a 67% year-on-year increase and nearly a fivefold rise compared to 2021. Compared to 2019, case numbers were 13.7% lower. The highest incidence was observed in children aged 0-4 and 5-9 years. Vaccination coverage among 3-year-olds was around 91%, below the elimination threshold (≥95%). Laboratory confirmation accounted for only about 2% of notifications.

Analysis of epidemiological data from 2022-2023 indicates a marked increase in rubella cases in Poland compared to the COVID-19 pandemic period. In 2023, the number of reported cases was nearly five times higher than in 2021. Although the 2023 total remained below that of 2019, the last pre-pandemic year, the observed upward trend may be associated with increased virus transmission following a period of reduced exposure due to sanitary restrictions implemented during the pandemic.