Vaccination of rubella-susceptible women during oral contraceptive care in general practice

Abstract

Over a six-month period women attending a general practice surgery for contraceptive pill prescriptions were asked whether they had had rubella and if they would give a blood sample to test for immunity. Of 459 interview, 104 (23%) did not want any more children and 69 (15%) had been vaccinated or had been shown to be immune by serotesting. Only three refused to give a blood sample, and 283 patients (62%) had their antibody concentrations checked. Two hundred and twenty-five (79-5%) could be reassured that they were immune, and the rest were offered rubella vaccination. It is thus quite feasible, and would add little to the work load, to screen the susceptible women in a practice and offer rubella vaccination to those needing it.