[Rubella immunization in Switzerland (infection rate in cantons with different immunization practices]

By means of rubella antibody determinations we attempted to determine the value of routine rubella immunization of adolescent girls. For this purpose we compared the antibody titres of young women and men from Basle City/Basle Country (immunization since 1969) with those of persons of the same age from Uri (no immunization) and Nidwalden (immunization only since 1977). The difference in the infection rate between nonimmunized young men and women of the same age in Basle is significant. In Uri and Nidwalden most young adults have rubella antibodies despite the lack of immunization. The reasons why we nevertheless recommend the introduction of routine immunization in the Canton of Uri are discussed.