Rubella Virus Vaccine (DB10317): A Comprehensive Monograph on its Virology, Clinical Application, and Public Health Legacy

1.0 Executive Summary

The Rubella virus vaccine (DrugBank ID: DB10317) is a cornerstone of modern preventive medicine, classified as a live attenuated biotech product designed for active immunization against rubella, also known as German measles.[1] The vaccine is prepared from the Wistar RA 27/3 strain of the rubella virus, a component selected for its superior immunogenicity, which has proven critical to the vaccine's global success.[1] Its mechanism of action relies on inducing a controlled, limited replication of the attenuated virus within the host, thereby mimicking natural infection to stimulate a robust and durable immune response without causing significant disease.[4] This process elicits both a strong humoral response, characterized by high-titer neutralizing antibodies, and a cell-mediated response involving rubella-specific T-lymphocytes.[5]

Clinically, the vaccine demonstrates exceptionally high efficacy, with a single dose conferring approximately 97% protection against rubella, and a second dose increasing this to nearly 99%.[6] The immunity conferred is considered lifelong.[6] The paramount public health objective of the rubella vaccination program is the prevention of Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), a devastating condition that can cause severe birth defects, fetal death, or neonatal death when a pregnant woman is infected with the wild-type virus.[5] In many countries, including the United States, the rubella vaccine is exclusively available in combination formulations, primarily the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine, a strategic approach that maximizes protection against multiple diseases at each clinical encounter.[1]