MCQ 11

True statements concerning vaccines include

a. Inactivated vaccines are hazardous to the mother
b. Cases of congenital rubella syndrome have been reported in fetuses born to mothers
    who were immunized   early in pregnancy
c. Inactivated vaccines are hazardous to the fetus
d. The polio virus has the ability to spread from the vaccine to susceptible persons in the
    immediate environment
e. Nonimmune pregnant women who are exposed to children who recently received the
    measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine are at high risk of delivery of an infected fetus

Answer and explanation

The answer is d.
Inactivated or formalin killed vaccines such as those for influenza, typhoid fever, tetanus, pertussis,diphtheria toxoid, rabies, poliomyelitis, cholera, plague, and RockyMountain spotted fever are probably not hazardous for either the mother or the fetus. Among the live viral vaccines, such as those for measles, mumps, and poliomyelitis, only the rubella vaccine theoretically may retain its teratogenic properties. There is a 5 to 10% risk of fetal infection when the vaccine is administered during the first trimester. However, no cases of
congenital rubella syndrome have been reported in this group of patients. Of the commonly administered attenuated live viral vaccines, only the polio virus has the ability to spread from a vaccine to susceptible persons in the immediate environment. Therefore, the risk of infection for the pregnant mother who has been exposed to children who have recently been vaccinated for measles, mumps, and rubella is probably minimal.