Premarital rubella screening in Rhode Island

Rhode Island law requires that rubella serological screening be done for most female marriage license applicants. To evaluate the effect of the law, 203 rubella-susceptible women detected through premarital screening over a four-month period in 1978 were surveyed. Of those responding, 37% had been immunized, 21% were pregnant or infertile, and 42% were eligible for immunization but had not received vaccine. Premarital immunization occurred most frequently when physicians advised and directly offered vaccine. A survey of primary care physicians indicated that 24% immunized none of their rubella-susceptible patients detected by premarital screening.