Vaccination with a live RA 27/3 strain rubella vaccine (Rudivax), a follow-up study.

Thirteen-year-old Helsinki schoolgirls were screened for rubella antibodies using fingertip blood specimens and the single radial haemolysis (SRH) test. The seronegative individuals (326/1234; 26.4%) were immunized with the RA 27/3 strain of rubella vaccine (Rudivax). All 326 produced SRH and haemagglutinin inhibition (HAI) antibodies and 129 IgM antibodies (39.4%) detected by enzyme immunoassay in the two-month follow-up serum samples. The incidence and nature of side effects was low. In the twenty-four month follow-up serum samples all individuals had substantial levels of rubella antibodies and no clinical reinfections had occurred during the observation period.