Rubella Virus Vaccine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 25, 2024.

Applies to rubella virus vaccine: subcutaneous powder for injection.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Although immunization against rubella virus is available in a single vaccine, it may be best for you to receive a combination measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Follow your doctor's instructions.

You should not receive a rubella virus vaccine if you are pregnant. Wait until after your child is born to receive the vaccine. Avoid becoming pregnant for at least 3 months after receiving a rubella virus vaccine.

The first rubella virus vaccine is usually given to a child who is 12 to 15 month old. The booster shots are then given between 4 and 6 years of age. A measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine should then be given before the child starts elementary school.

Adults born after 1956 should receive at least one measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination if they have never had the diseases or received an MMR vaccine during their lifetime.

Your individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.

Be sure you receive all recommended doses of this vaccine. If you do not receive the full series of vaccines, you may not be fully protected against the disease.

You can still receive a vaccine if you have a minor cold or low fever. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this vaccine.

You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. When you receive a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with rubella is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine to protect against these diseases. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. When you receive a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with measles, mumps, or rubella is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine to protect against these diseases. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction while taking rubella virus vaccine: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• high fever (within a few hours or a few days after the vaccine);

• swollen glands;

• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

• joint swelling or stiffness that continues for several weeks after vaccination;

• weakness, severe lower back pain, numbness or tingly feeling in your feet and spreading upward;

• problems with hearing, vision, speech, swallowing, or bladder and bowel functions;

• slow heart rate, trouble breathing, feeling like you might pass out;

• seizure (black-out or convulsions); or

• severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.

Less serious side effects include:

• low fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose;

• headache, dizziness, feeling tired or irritable;

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;

• joint or muscle pain;

• numbness or tingly feeling; or

• redness, pain, swelling, or a lump where the shot was given.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

For healthcare professionals

Applies to rubella virus vaccine: subcutaneous powder for injection.

Local

Local side effects have included injection site burning/stinging, wheal and flare, erythema, pain, and induration.^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions have included anaphylaxis, anaphylactoid reactions, angioneurotic edema (including peripheral or facial edema), and bronchial spasm.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included vasculitis.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, erythema multiforme, urticaria, and rash.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included pancreatitis; diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.^[Ref]

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects have included thrombocytopenia, purpura, regional lymphadenopathy, and leukocytosis.^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects have included arthralgia and/or arthritis (usually transient and rarely chronic), myalgia, paresthesia, and rarely chronic arthritis; these symptoms may also occur with natural rubella.^[Ref]

The vaccine has rarely been associated with chronic joint symptoms. The incidence of arthritis and arthralgia is generally higher in adult women than in children (women, 12% to 26%; children, 0% to 3%), and symptoms tend to be more marked and of longer duration, persisting for months or years (rare). In adolescent girls, the incidence of reactions appears to be intermediate between those seen in children and in women. These reactions are generally well tolerated and rarely interfere with normal activities, even in women over 35 years old.^[Ref]

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included encephalitis, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), polyneuritis, polyneuropathy, and paresthesia.^[Ref]

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included optic neuritis, papillitis, retrobulbar neuritis, and conjunctivitis.^[Ref]

Other

Otic side effects have included nerve deafness and otitis media.^[Ref]

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects have included sore throat, cough, and rhinitis.^[Ref]

Other

Other side effects have included fever, syncope, headache, dizziness, malaise, and irritability. Fatalities have been reported with the polyvalent measles/mumps/rubella vaccine; however, causality has not been determined.

Health care providers should report any allergic or unusual adverse reactions to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) at 1-800-822-7967 (USA) and the manufacturer.^[Ref]

A postmarketing surveillance study of measles/mumps/rubella vaccine in Finland during 1982 to 1993 with 1.5 million pediatric and adult vaccinees reported no deaths or permanent sequelae.^[Ref]

Further information

Rubella virus vaccine side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

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