The eradication of rubella in Australia is evidence of the vital role vaccinations play in protecting our health, researchers at The Kids Research Institute Australia say.
The World Health Organisation announced this week that the disease, which can cause miscarriages or lifelong disabilities to unborn babies, is officially eradicated in Australia.
Director of the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccine and Infectious Diseases at The Kids Research Institute Australia, Dr Tom Snelling says the elimination of the disease, also known as German measles, is a direct result of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine which has been part of the National Immunisation Program for the past 30 years.
“Now is the time to celebrate the remarkable impact that vaccination has had on the health of Australians,” Dr Snelling says.
“While most children with rubella fully recover, many women who are infected in pregnancy either miscarry or have babies who are severely affected by heart, eye, hearing and neurological problems.
“Thanks to high levels of support for vaccination in the community, mothers will no longer need to suffer the tragedy of a baby born affected by congenital rubella syndrome.”
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for neighbouring countries throughout the Western Pacific region, however recent studies by The Kids researchers are helping to demonstrate how this can be achieved within the next 10 years.
Research by Postdoctoral researcher Dr Yue Wu has shown that making the switch to the combined measles-rubella vaccines and maintaining high vaccine coverage is the key to eradicating rubella throughout the region.
“Australia’s successful elimination of rubella, together with modelling studies like those of Dr Wu, will encourage other countries to prioritise investment in their own childhood vaccination programs,” Dr Snelling says.
Read more about our work to reduce the impact of infectious diseases in kids here.