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Walter A. Orenstein, MD; Wayne L. Greaves, MD

JAMA. 1982;247(8):1174-1175.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

The 1964-1965 rubella pandemic resulted in approximately 20,000 malformed infants and 30,000 stillbirths in the United States, with an estimated economic impact of approximately $1.5 billion.¹ The opportunity to prevent similar tragedies was provided when rubella vaccine was licensed in 1969.

Initial control efforts in the United States were aimed at preschool and young school-aged children to decrease the overall number of rubella cases and, consequently, the chances of exposing a susceptible pregnant female. Vaccination of susceptible postpubertal females was given lower priority. Implementation of this strategy has resulted in an interruption of the characteristic epidemics of rubella at six- to nine-year intervals, a marked reduction in the overall incidence of rubella, and prevention of epidemics of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).² The major impact has been on young school-aged children, among whom rubella incidence decreased 89% between 1966-1968 and 1975-1977. Unfortunately, less progress has been made in controlling . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
Center for Prevention Services Centers for Disease Control Atlanta

Footnotes
Address editorial communications to the Editor, 535 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60610.

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