Success and failure of a rubella immunization programme

A Rubella control programme was started in 1973 in Israel and aimed at: 1) the yearly immunization of all school girls aged 12; and (2) the rapid immunization of females 12 years old from the communal settlements. Both HEP77DE5 and Wistar RA 27/3 (WI-38) strains were used. A 5 year follow-up showed: (a) a vaccination coverage of 95%; (b) a seroconversion rate which approached 100% with persistent protective G. M.-antibody values; (c) about 15% of the females of childbearing age in the general population were devoid of Rubella HI antibody. During 1978 an extensive Rubella epidemic occurred in the general population 15-20% of whom were in the age group 15-44, whilst in the communal settlements no cases were observed in vaccinated people of the same age group.