Cumberland County Health Department
Intensifies Rubella Vaccination Efforts

During the past four years, North Carolina has experienced a series of rubella (German Measles) outbreaks. In an effort to prevent future outbreaks of this disease, the Cumberland County Health Department has stepped up efforts to vaccinate individuals who are more likely to be susceptible to or affected by rubella.

The Immunization Branch in the NC Division of Public Health, recently authorized the health department to use state-supplied MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine to stop the spread of rubella and to prevent future outbreaks. The Immunization Branch has selected certain counties, including Cumberland County for the expanded vaccination plan, based on an analysis of demographic information and vaccine supply. Using the additional vaccine, the health department will perform the following activities:

• Immunize all non-pregnant women of childbearing age who do not have a history of MMR vaccine or have not demonstrated immunity by serological titer.
• Immunize household and close contacts of pregnant women who do not have a history of MMR vaccine.
• Immunize all susceptible Hispanic/Latinos in workplaces, which employ this high-risk population.
• Immunize other individuals who present to the health department without a documented history of MMR vaccine or serological immunity to rubella.
• Contact birthing hospitals and birthing centers to ensure that MMR vaccine is administered to non-immune women during the post-partum period prior to discharge.
• Encourage healthcare facilities in the county to ensure immunity of workers who have potential contact with women of childbearing age.

The Cumberland County Health Department will conduct outreach clinics in the month of August at the following locations:

For more information about these outreach clinics, please call the Health Department at 433-3800, Monday through Friday, 8am - 5pm.

For more information on the news release, you may contact Rhonda Brown, Cumberland County Health Dept. at (910) 433-3800.

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