What should you know about MMR and rubella?

MMR combines protection against measles, mumps and rubella. Rubella can be mild, with a rash, low fever, swollen glands or aching joints, and some people have few symptoms. Infection during pregnancy can harm an unborn baby, which is why immunity is especially relevant before pregnancy.

Symptoms do not identify rubella by themselves; other viral illnesses can look similar. A vaccination record or clinician assessment is more reliable than guessing from a rash.

Check your MMR history before pregnancy where possible and discuss gaps with a clinician. Tell them if you are pregnant, might be pregnant, have an immune-system condition, take immune-affecting medicine or have had a severe allergic reaction. Do not arrange a live vaccine without individual advice when pregnancy is possible.

If fever, rash, joint pain or swollen glands develop after an exposure, call a GP Consultation service before attending in person. Avoid close contact with pregnant people until you receive advice, especially if rubella is suspected.

Contact a clinician promptly if you are pregnant or could be pregnant and have a new rash, fever, swollen glands or a known rubella exposure. Seek urgent care for breathing difficulty, collapse, confusion, severe headache or a rapidly worsening reaction after vaccination. A mild sore arm or short-lived tiredness can follow vaccination; report symptoms that are severe or worsening.

Does my record show rubella protection? If pregnancy is planned, when should immunity be checked? Could my symptoms be rubella, and should I avoid contact with anyone who is pregnant while this is assessed?