Objective To analyze the variation trend in anti-rubella antibody level as well as the immunization efficacy of the rubella vaccine component of measles-rubella combined attenuated vaccine（MR）among infants from Zhuzhou

China

which may provide insights into the development of immunization strategy for rubella prevention and control.Methods A total of 210 newborns randomly selected from comprehensive hospitals with Department of Obstetrics across all districts or counties of Zhuzhou between April 1 st and June 30

2014 were included in this study.Quantitative analysis of the serum anti-rubella IgG antibody level in umbilical cord blood at birth

at MR immunization（before primary MR immunization）and 1 month after MR immunization was performed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）.Results Before primary MR immunization

31 infants tested positive for serum anti-rubella IgG antibody and 175 infants tested negative for this antibody（positive rate

15.05%;geometric mean concentration GMC

2.66 IU/mL）.The positive rate of serum anti-rubella IgG antibody and its GMC before primary MR immunization were significantly reduced compared with those at birth（P<0.05）;the GMC of serum anti-rubella IgG antibody before primary MR immunization did not vary significantly among infants of different ages（months）（P>0.05）.At 1 month after MR immunization

infants with a positive serum anti-rubella IgG antibody before primary MR immunization had a significantly higher antibody level than those who tested negative before primary immunization（P<0.05）.Besides

regardless of the serum anti-rubella IgG antibody level in umbilical cord blood

the immunization success rate at 1 month after MR immunization was similar（P>0.05）.Conslusion The maternal antibody level is generally low among infants aged below 8 months from Zhuzhou

which may be related with a low IgG antibody level among their mothers.Thus

it is recommended that women of child-bearing potential who test negative for anti-rubella antibody in their pre-pregnancy checks receive one dose of rubella vaccine to enhance their serum anti-rubella antibody level

which may not only prevent congenital rubella syndrome

but also indirectly enhance the maternal antibody level in their newborn babies.