Rubella is a viral illness that spreads from person to person. The virus that causes rubella mainly spreads through the air via tiny particles or droplets of fluid that are made when people who are infected with it cough or sneeze. It's also called German measles, but it is different to the illness which is caused by the measles virus. Rubella is usually not a serious illness for children. rhe symptoms are generally mild. and resolve in about three days. Children may experience a rash, fever, headache, swollen glands, runny nose, joint pain, or sore red eyes. One in every two people who catch rubella may not have any symptoms at all, but can still infect others. Rubella can be very serious for pregnant people as it can cause miscarriage or birth defects, called congenital rubella syndrome. Congenital rubella syndrome may cause a baby to have a number of problems including intellectual disability, cataracts, deafness, and heart abnormalities. This is why it's still very important to vaccinate against rubella to prevent the spread of the virus. Vaccination is the best way to protect your child from the disease. Rubella vaccines available in Australia are combination vaccines that also protect against measles and mumps, and for the 18-month dose, chickenpox. This means your child will be protected against more diseases with fewer injections and with less pain and stress for your child. Under the National Immunisation Program, children should receive the free vaccine at 12 and 18 months for the best possible protection. The vaccine provides immunity to rubella to help prevent your child from getting the disease. It contains a weakened and safe form of the rubella virus and trains your child's immune system to recognise and protect against infection. Getting both doses of the vaccine is about 95% effective in protecting against rubella. Vaccination reduces your child's chances of getting rubella, and if they do get it, they have less risk of serious illness and hospitalisation. Your child may experience mild side effects after the vaccine, which usually disappear within a few days. Common side effects in the first few days after immunisation include redness, swelling, and soreness at the injection site. Some children develop fever and a rash, five to twelve days later. Paracetamol can be used as directed on the label if your child feels unwell with fever or pain after immunisation. Rubella is now rare in Australia thanks to childhood vaccination programmes. However, outbreaks can still occur among people who are not immune, so we need to keep vaccinating.
In this video, Dr Emma Goeman shares what it is and how you can protect your child with free vaccines available under the National Immunisation Program.