Q. What are the risks of MMR vaccine during pregnancy?

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• The MMR vaccine is a real threat in a pregnant state (mumps, measles and rubella). Yes, nobody could say you either continue or terminate the pregnancy.

• Just go through the details. If you wish to adopt the potential risk, then you can continue.

For further information consult an obstetrician and gynaecologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/obstetrician-and-gynaecologist

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Really, there is a danger if the mother develops rubella naturally. In that case, definitely there is a known risk of the fetus developing some anomalies termed as congenital rubella syndrome.

But, the fact is not the same if you have received a vaccination. This vaccine, though contain live rubella virus, but in a much inactivated form.

A few studies have been conducted to know the effect of this vaccine virus over the developing fetus where the mother like you received the vaccine inadvertently. The results of those studies are reassuring.

• In the first study, 293 women have been followed through who were vaccinated with rubella-containing vaccine within 6 weeks of their last menstrual period. None of the babies had permanent abnormalities compatible with congenital rubella syndrome.

• In the second study, over 30,000 pregnant women inadvertently received MR vaccine. The vaccine had been given either during pregnancy (the majority were less than 12 weeks pregnant) or up to 30 days before these women had conceived.

• Extended follow-up of the outcome of these pregnancies was very reassuring. Whilst a very small number of babies were shown to have been exposed to the weakened vaccine virus in the womb, fortunately, no babies developed congenital rubella syndrome.

• But still, we do not recommend this vaccine in pregnant state to avoid any potential danger. Reports are there that there is no such risk and it is not also straightaway indicated to terminate the pregnancy if MMR has been administered.

• So now, after this detailed discussion, there always exists individualization as each pregnancy is different and reacts in a different manner.

Yes, there is always a role of USG (ultrasonography) for the purpose of detection of any anomalies.

This needs to be precise and only can detect those anomalies if any, either if the sonologist is experienced enough to conduct an anomaly scan and the defects are quite well developed or large enough to be demonstrable.

For further doubts consult an obstetrician and gynaecologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/obstetrician-and-gynaecologist

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

When a mother gets infected with natural rubella, the virus gets transmitted through the placenta and particularly in early pregnancy like 6 to 8 weeks, it affects the fetus.

The damage is more when the pregnancy is early. The abnormalities have a specific type, which is combinedly termed as congenital rubella syndrome.

In this suspicion, we do not advise this vaccine in pregnant state, which contains the live rubella virus suspecting that it will also travel the placenta creating similar problems.

Now, as per the study result, they have found few anomalies. But, those are not related or similar to those due to rubella infection in the mother.

• You may ask me, why those anomalies? The answer is, as a general, there are 2% cases where anomalies can be found in newborn and those anomalies in newborn have been described here. This is a natural phenomenon to have this.

• So, the researchers told the vaccine do not have any effect over the pregnancy as these anomalies are found in all general population throughout the world. These anomalies or abnormalities obviously are not related to either MMR or rubella infection.

For further information consult an obstetrician and gynaecologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/obstetrician-and-gynaecologist