title: Congenital rubella syndrome and autism spectrum disorder prevented by rubella vaccination--United States, 2001-2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is associated with several negative outcomes, including autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The objective of this study was to estimate the numbers of CRS and ASD cases prevented by rubella vaccination in the United States from 2001 through 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevention estimates were calculated through simple mathematical modeling, with values of model parameters determined from published literature. Model parameters included pre-vaccine era CRS incidence, vaccine era CRS incidence, the number of live births per year, and the percentage of CRS cases presenting with an ASD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on our estimates, 16,600 CRS cases (range: 8300-62,250) were prevented by rubella vaccination from 2001 through 2010 in the United States. An estimated 1228 ASD cases were prevented by rubella vaccination in the United States during this time period. Simulating a slight expansion in ASD diagnostic criteria in recent decades, we estimate that a minimum of 830 ASD cases and a maximum of 6225 ASD cases were prevented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We estimate that rubella vaccination prevented substantial numbers of CRS and ASD cases in the United States from 2001 through 2010. These findings provide additional incentive to maintain high measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination coverage.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Room 7017 (CNR Building), Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. brynn.e.berger@gmail.com
authors: Brynn E
authors: BE
authors: Berger
authors: Ann Marie
authors: AM
authors: Navar-Boggan
authors: Saad B
authors: SB
authors: Omer
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