Rubella in Israel after the MMR vaccine: elimination or containment?

J Public Health Policy. 2013 May;34(2):288-301. doi: 10.1057/jphp.2013.8. Epub 2013 Feb 28.

Abstract

Since 1996, after the full institution of the two-dose measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) regimen in Israel, rubella incidence has declined dramatically and has remained extremely low. Cyclical outbreaks ended; the two brief outbreaks that did occur were quickly contained; and epidemiological data indicate that the disease is practically absent from the country. But similar steep declines in the incidence of measles and mumps, the two other MMR-preventable diseases, were followed by major outbreaks in 2007 and 2010. Epidemiological analyses show that undervaccination of subgroups within the Jewish ultra-orthodox population, both in Israel and abroad, and virus importation into Israel, continue to be risk factors for all three MMR-preventable diseases. Israel's public health system, therefore, should focus on a policy of containment: improve MMR coverage among undervaccinated subgroups and assure that virus importation is no longer a risk. Then the goal of rubella elimination will become feasible. We discuss how the Israeli experience may contribute to the World Health Organization Initiative to eliminate simultaneously measles and rubella.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Israel / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / administration & dosage*
  • Middle Aged
  • Religion
  • Risk Factors
  • Rubella / epidemiology*
  • Rubella / prevention & control*
  • World Health Organization
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine