Rubella Vax for Teen Girls?

[just_lily]

Curious about everyone's thoughts on this one.

I am currently delaying all vaccines for my daughter, most likely indefinitely. When doing risk/benefit analysis the one thing that really concerns me is if she contracts rubella during a pregnancy.

So I am thinking if i would be worthwhile to wait until she is 12 or 13 or so, run titres, and if she is not immune to get her single dose rubella vax (not MMR).

Considering she is not even four months old yet we have a bit of lead time on this. Are any non-vaxers or selective/delayers out there concerned about rubella for their daughters?

Of course we could consider varicella vax at the same time if she doesn't have immunity, for the same reason. I am not immune myself, and still haven't made a decision about it for me.

[jjawm]

Yeah, I'm definately going to get it for her when she's older. I worry that there's not enough of it going around for her to catch it normally. Same thing about chicken pox.

[CarsonBookworm]

Considering it.

[coloradoalice]

If there's not enough going around wildly why would she suddenly get it when she's pregnant?

Personally I think the risk of contracting it is extremely minimal and the chances of complications from that exposure even less. Are complications possible? Yes. Could it be catastrophic? The chances are very very low. It that worth getting the vaccine? That's a decision your daughter can make when she is getting ready to start a family.

[MadameXCupcake]

Originally Posted by coloradoalice

If there's not enough going around wildly why would she suddenly get it when she's pregnant?

Personally I think the risk of contracting it is extremely minimal and the chances of complications from that exposure even less. Are complications possible? Yes. Could it be catastrophic? The chances are very very low. It that worth getting the vaccine? That's a decision your daughter can make when she is getting ready to start a family.

:
My daughters body not mine. I will inform her of the risks, etc and SHE can decide.

[peainthepod]

Originally Posted by MadameXCupcake

:
My daughters body not mine. I will inform her of the risks, etc and SHE can decide.

ITA. Had I not been vaccinated as a child, there's no way I would have voluntary taken an MMR injection before trying to conceive as an adult. Unfortunately my parents didn't give me that choice.

[lirpasirhc]

Originally Posted by peainthepod

ITA. Had I not been vaccinated as a child, there's no way I would have voluntary taken an MMR injection before trying to conceive as an adult. Unfortunately my parents didn't give me that choice.

exactly. i was fully vaxed as a child and revaxed for college entry b/c my records were lost (didn't know about exemptions). i still don't have rubella immunity according to my titers, and i have chosen not to get more rubella vaccines. my dd can choose for herself when she is an adult.

[janellesmommy]

Vaccinating at age 12 or 13 is worrying that she'll have an unplanned pregnancy as a teenager, and be exposed to rubella in those specific 9 months, and catch it, and have it affect her baby.

The chances of all those things happening together are miniscule. Let her make the decision as an adult.

For those that care, the rubella and MMR vaccines contain cell lines from an aborted human fetus.

Everyone should care that the vaccine can cause arthritis in women.