Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Vaccine Overview

Haemophilus influenzaetype B, or Hib, disease is caused by a bacterial infection. It usually strikes children under five years old. Hib disease can lead to:

• Meningitis
• Pneumonia
• Swelling in the throat
• Other types of infections
• Death

People can carry Hib bacteria and not know it. These germs can spread from person to person, usually through droplets from an infected person. When the germs stay in the nose and throat, sickness will probably not occur. But when they spread into the lungs or the bloodstream, they can cause serious problems.

Before the vaccine, severe Hib disease affected about 20,000 US children under age five.

Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Other symptoms, depending on the part of the body affected

It usually takes less than 10 days after being exposed to develop symptoms. It is treated with antibiotics.

The Hib vaccine is made from inactivated elements of the bacteria. It is injected into the muscle.

Children should get 3-4 doses (depending on the dose) at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months of age.

Also, if a dose is missed, speak to the doctor. There are different catch-up schedules depending on the brand and your child's age.

This vaccine is not routinely recommended for children aged over five years. It is sometimes given to children and adults with certain conditions, such as:

• Sickle cell disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Removal of the spleen
• Bone marrow transplant
• Cancer treatment with drugs

Like any vaccine, the Hib vaccine can cause serious problems, such as a severe allergic reaction. While most people do not have any problems, some have redness, warmth, or swelling near the injection site, as well as a fever.

Acetaminophen (eg, Tylenol) is sometimes given to reduce pain and fever that may occur after getting a vaccine. In infants, the medicine may weaken the vaccine's effectiveness. Discuss the risks and benefits of taking acetaminophen with the doctor.

The following people should not get the vaccine:

• Children aged over five years or younger than six weeks
• People who have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of Hib vaccine
• People who are moderately to severely ill (They need to wait until they have recovered.)

Antibiotics may be given to infants and young children who have not been vaccinated and have been exposed to the disease.

In the event of an outbreak, public health officials will determine who is at risk and vaccinate people.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

Childhood Immunization Support Program
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.cispimmunize.org/

National Immunization Program
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/

References:

CDC, AAFP, others release interim Hib vaccine recommendations. American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/clinical-care-research/20071219hibinterimrecs.html . Accessed December 20, 2007.

Directors of Health Promotion and Education website. Available at: http://www.dhpe.org/ . Accessed February 6, 2007.

New York State Department of Health website. Available at: http://www.health.state.ny.us/prevention/immunization/recommendations/children.htm . Accessed February 6, 2007.

Type B (Hib) vaccine. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-hib.pdf . Accessed February 6, 2007.

Vaccine information statements. Immunization Action Coalition website. Available at: http://www.immunize.org/vis/ . Accessed February 6, 2007.

1/31/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended immunization schedules for persons aged 0-18 years—United States, 2008. MMWR. 2008;57;Q1-Q4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5701a8.htm . Updated January 10, 2008. Accessed January 28, 2008.

9/25/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Licensure of a haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine (Hiberix) and updated recommendations for use of Hib vaccine. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009;58:1008.

10/30/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Prymula R, Siegrist C, Chlibek R, et al. Effect of prophylactic paracetamol administration at time of vaccination on febrile reactions and antibody responses in children: two open-label, randomised controlled trials. Lancet. 2009;374(9698):1339.