NOVEMBER 8, 2016

Rubella Vaccine Can Be Risky for Those With Rare Immune Disorders

By Marie Rosenthal

Some patients with rare primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDD) may be at risk for infection by rubella virus, and possibly serious skin inflammation, after receiving the rubella vaccine, usually administered as part of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2016;138[5]:1436-1439.e11). 

Although the vaccine for rubella (German measles) has an established record of safety and effectiveness in the general population, patients with severe