Russia Initiates Additional Immunization to Combat Dangerous Infection
A «catch-up» vaccination program against rubella is set to commence in Russia this October. This initiative aims to provide additional immunization to women of childbearing age whose vaccination status is unknown, as well as to children. Rubella poses a particular risk to pregnant individuals: while the woman herself may experience mild symptoms, the virus can have devastating effects on the fetus, sometimes leading to medical indications for abortion. Although no major outbreaks have been recorded in Russia since 2017, a rise in cases in 2024 has prompted authorities to take urgent action.
On August 26, Rospotrebnadzor published a draft resolution by the chief state sanitary doctor, outlining additional measures for rubella prevention in the Russian Federation. From October 2025 to December 2026, regions will conduct a «catch-up» immunization campaign. This will target children and women of childbearing age who are unvaccinated, have received only one dose, lack vaccination records, or have not previously contracted the infection.
According to the national vaccination schedule, rubella vaccination (often part of the MMR vaccine) is administered to children at 12 months, with a booster dose at 6 years. Thanks to consistent vaccination efforts, Russia has held the status of a «rubella-free territory» since 2017, with only isolated cases imported from other countries. However, in 2024, Rospotrebnadzor recorded 258 rubella cases across 25 regions, with the highest numbers in Dagestan (92), Moscow Oblast (70), Astrakhan Oblast (20), and Moscow (20).
The agency attributes the worsening epidemiological situation to «deficiencies in the work of medical organizations regarding planned rubella immunization.» More than 90% of those infected were either unvaccinated or had no record of vaccination.
As explained by infectious disease specialist Andrey Pozdnyakov, rubella is a viral infection that typically runs a mild course and often goes unnoticed, except in one critical group: pregnant women who have not previously had the disease or been vaccinated. «For them, the illness will likely be mild. However, the rubella virus has a devastating, destructive effect on the fetus,» Pozdnyakov noted. Congenital rubella is a severe condition characterized by multiple developmental defects, including microcephaly, hearing loss, congenital heart defects, and eye damage.
Pediatrician Pavel Ozornykh confirmed that if a pregnant woman contracts rubella in early pregnancy, the virus is transmitted to the unborn child with a 90% probability. There is no specific treatment for rubella, making vaccination the most effective protective measure. Andrey Pozdnyakov emphasized the need to vaccinate «as many people as possible» to create a protective barrier around pregnant women who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. He stated that any major outbreak would inevitably affect some of these vulnerable women, leading to the birth of children with severe developmental anomalies. Rubella is officially listed as a medical indication for pregnancy termination.
Rospotrebnadzor will instruct regional health authorities to identify all individuals not vaccinated according to the national schedule, compile vaccination lists and schedules, and form dedicated «vaccination teams.»
Starting October 8, regions will submit weekly reports on the campaign`s progress to Rospotrebnadzor. Medical professionals, including obstetricians and gynecologists, will also receive training on rubella diagnosis and prevention. Federal subjects are tasked with conducting public awareness campaigns and approving immunization plans in medical organizations by September 25. Particular attention in the document is given to organizing vaccination in outbreak areas, where contact persons among children and adults up to 40 years old need to be immunized. This will require calculating vaccine demand and submitting data to executive authorities for funding allocation.
The goal of the catch-up revaccination is to establish stable herd immunity to rubella, enhance anti-epidemic and preventive work in outbreak areas, and «intensify» public awareness about prevention measures and the benefits of vaccination, Rospotrebnadzor clarified. The service stressed that the current rubella situation is «stable and controlled,» with a decline in incidence even noted since May 2025. The agency highlighted that primarily unvaccinated individuals are contracting rubella.
Vladimir Chulanov, Chief Freelance Specialist of the Russian Ministry of Health for Infectious Diseases, added that rubella outbreaks in foreign countries pose a risk of the infection being imported into Russia. He underscored the importance of timely vaccination in accordance with the national immunization calendar.
