Rubella Vaccine

Rubella is a viral infection that causes a rash and swollen glands in the face, hands, and feet. It can lead to serious complications in pregnant women and is also a risk factor for congenital rubella syndrome. Children who contract the virus in utero may have birth defects such as deafness, heart defects, and mental retardation. The rubella vaccine is a vaccine that protects against rubella, a virus that is spread by contact with an infected persons saliva or droplets from their nose or throat. The vaccine works by using a harmless part of the virus, called an antigen, to train the immune system to recognize the virus and to produce antibodies.