GROUP SENDS RUBELLA VACCINES TO INDIA

In response to a recent outbreak of rubella in India, nonprofit aid group AmeriCares is sending 55,000 doses of vaccine to help lower the risk of long-term disabilities caused by the virus, according to the organization.

Rubella is often passed from an unvaccinated pregnant woman to the fetus. While rubella cases have declined considerably in the United States since the vaccine was introduced in 1969, many countries such as India do not have rubella vaccination programs, the group said.

The vaccines will be distributed by AmeriCares partner in India, Impact India Foundation, which will monitor the distribution of the vaccine to numerous health clinics in the Thane district of Mumbai.

The rubella vaccine is manufactured by Merck.