Rubella surveillance to december 1990: a joint report from the PHLS and National Congenital Rubella Surveillance Programme.

Introduction Rubella immunisation was introduced in the UK in 1970 with the aim of preventing congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) by the selective vaccination of schoolgirls and susceptible adult women. An augmented immunisation policy, aimed at eliminating circulating rubella by the mass vaccination of children of both sexes, was adopted in October 1988 with the introduction of the combined measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine. MMR vaccine was targeted at two age groups: 1-2 year old children who were formerly given measles vaccine and 4-5 year old children who present for pre-school booster doses of diphtheria/tetanus vaccine. Rubella vaccination of schoolgirls and susceptible adult women continues. The impact of the selective immunisation programme prior to the introduction of MMR vaccine is assessed using information from several sources. These include vaccine coverage figures, the prevalence of rubella infection and rubella susceptibility in pregnant women and in the general population, and reports of congenital rubella and rubella-associated terminations of pregnancy. The aim is to establish a base-line for the 3 years from 1987 to 1989 from which to evaluate the future impact of the MMR vaccination programme.