The MMR vaccination programme has dramatically reduced the number of rubella births and rubella associated terminations in the UK.
Between 1971 - 1975, there were 50 congenital rubella births reported on average each year and 750 rubella associated terminations. In the years before MMR was introduced in 1988 this had reduced to 30 rubella births a year and an average of 75 rubella terminations a year.
Since 2001, there have been just seven rubella births.
Around the world the story is the same. Finland introduced MMR in 1982 and eliminated rubella in 1994. The US has a two dose MMR strategy and in recent years announced the elimination of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome.
