Rubella susceptibility in young adults

Despite widespread availability of rubella vaccine, a substantial group of young women remain at risk for delivery of infants with congenital rubella syndrome. In this study of 224 women students of childbearing age seen at a university gynecological clinic, 10.3 percent were shown serologically to have nonimmune rubella status. Of this group only five women returned for free immunization. Compliance and motivation appeared lacking. Patient history of infection or immunization was found to be unreliable; 59 percent of the sample population were uncertain of their immune status, and 32 percent showed poor understanding of rubella. Serological testing appears to be the only reliable test for detecting immune status.