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109
In Britain, it has been estimated that major epidemics occur
at intervals of 8 to 10 years (the last in 1962) during which about
1,500 women could be expected to contract rubella and, of these,
some 500 cases would arise within the first three months of
pregnancy. In a non-epidemic year, figures might be as low as 500
and 100 respectively. Small epidemics are likely as often as every
6 years and outbreaks tend to be more prevalent in winter and
spring.
Recent investigations carried out in the Home Counties reveal
that approximately 1/3rd of all girls would not have developed
immunity to german measles by the age of 15 years. Because so
many girls in the 15/20 age group are potential mothers it is
extremely important that protection be given them at an earlier age.
Under the control of the G.L.C.'s Research and Intelligence
Unit, a trial of rubella vaccine on girls of 11/13½ years in the
I.L.E.A. area has recently been carried out, the results of which
could well determine local health authorities' future prophylaxis
policy regarding this mild but foetus-damaging infective virus.
This trial of Rubella vaccine on girls aged 11-13½ years in the
I.L.E.A. area indicated that a programme of vaccination among
young people could probably eliminate the congenital defects
among babies born to mothers exposed to rubella during pregnancy.
Formerly it had been thought that such exposure after the 12th
to 16th week of pregnancy had no deleterious effects on the
developing foetus but recent work is revealing that defects can
occur at least as late as the 24th week.
A live attenuated rubella virus vaccine became more widely
available during the current year thereby enabling the Council
and local family doctors to start a scheme of prophylaxis among
young schoolgirls beginning with those in their 14th year, the
purpose of which is to protect girls against rubella before they
reach childbearing age. This continuing campaign was put into
operation in Greenwich during the last three months of the year
and, at December 31st, 1970, a total of 191 girls had received
protection.