Public Health England (PHE) announced on Wednesday that pregnant women in the UK no longer need to undergo rubella screening. The rule will take effect this April.
The decision of the agency to terminate the screening was based on two evidence reviews conducted by the UK National Screening Committee in 2003 and 2012.
"The decision to end rubella susceptibility screening in pregnancy in England is based on a rigorous assessment of the evidence and expert clinical advice," says Dr. Anne Mackie, PHE screening program director.
Committee members determined on both occasions that screening for rubella no longer meets the criteria for a screening program. For one, the rates of rubella in the UK are so low that it is already categorized as eliminated based on WHO's standards.
Secondly, rubella infection among pregnant women is highly rare.
Lastly, immunization with measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine prior to pregnancy is a more effective way of protecting women against the infection.
The MMR immunization program of the government have been exhibiting high rates of vaccination. In 2014 and 2015, figures show that 91.5 percent and 94.5 percent of children below 2 years old and 5 years old received at least one MMR vaccine respectively.
Mackie says the decision to eliminate rubella screening would ease busy midwives and make them focus more on new mothers and newborns.
Rubella susceptibility screening entails a blood exam to determine if a person is immune to rubella. Majority of women are immune and then, no further action is needed.
PHE states that the results of rubella screening may yield false positive results, causing unwarranted worry for pregnant women.
Screening does not provide protection. The only way to get protected is to get a vaccine before becoming pregnant.
Despite the decision, PHE's head of immunization Dr. Mary Ramsay warns women that rubella is still common in other parts of the world such as in Asia and Africa. She advises new UK entrants to register with a GP and have a vaccination.
Meanwhile, those who plan to travel outside of the country may also benefit from a trip to the GP to know if their immunity is still up to date.
MMR vaccination is not only for kids; it can be administered to people of all ages. If people suspect that their immunization is not up-to-date, then they are advised to go the GP for a checkup.
Rubella may cause serious hazards in pregnant women. The infection may result in miscarriages, with about 750 terminations per year in the past. Babies whose moms are infected with rubella may suffer from eye defects, loss of hearing, heart disorders and brain, liver, lungs and bone marrow damages.
Photo: Christian Pichler | Flickr
