Rubella Virus

A blood test will show whether a woman is immune to the virus Rubella. If a woman is not immune she can catch the Rubella virus. Rubella is the German measles virus, and if caught during pregnancy there is a serious risk of the baby being infected and damaged. If the blood test shows that a woman is not immune to the Rubella virus, then the MMR vaccine should be given. This is available in all our clinics and also at health centres throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

Once the vaccine has been given it is essential that 28 days is allowed to elapse before pregnancy occurs, because rubella is a live vaccine, which can damage an unborn child.