Rubella infection can be prevented by vaccination. Rubella vaccine is available since 1967. Rubella vaccine is introduced in childhood vaccination mainly in combination with measles and/or mumps vaccine.

To decrease the risk of rubella virus infections among pregnant women and consequent CRS cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends introduction of rubella vaccine which should be considered only in countries that have achieved high (80% or more) coverage with the first-dose measles-containing vaccine.

In the Eastern Mediterranean Region 16 out of the 23 members states have introduced rubella containing vaccine in their routine immunization program.