Rubella Vaccination

In 1969, in anticipation of the licensing of live rubella virus vaccine, we reviewed the data available from research work with attenuated rubella viruses and considered the prospects for controlling rubella through vaccination.1Looking ahead in this second year of rubella vaccine use, it is appropriate to pause and to reconsider our earlier comments in the light of the increased experience. Several questions pertaining to vaccine use arise frequently and will be dealt with in some detail. Vaccine Availability During an experimental phase extending from 1965 through 1969, approximately 100,000 persons were inoculated with various attenuated rubella virus preparations. At present, three manufacturers have been licensed in the United States to produce live rubella virus vaccine. These vaccines are HPV-77 DE5 (a derivative of the HPV-77 strain produced in duck embryo cell culture), HPV-77 DK12 (a derivative of the HPV-77 strain produced in dog kidney cell culture), and Cendehill