The consequences of antenatal rubella testing.

During 1983, 3,199 women attending an antenatal clinic were rubella serotested and 117 (3.7%) found to be non-immune. Only 76 (65%) were vaccinated post-partum. Although non-compliance and contra-indications to vaccination contribute to the reasons why patients were not immunized, the major factor was communication failure between the hospital and general practitioner. Recommendations are made to improve the uptake of vaccine by this group of susceptible women.