Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Vaccine: What You Need to Know
1. Why get vaccinated?
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease is a serious disease caused by bacteria. It usually strikes children under 5 years old.
Your child can get Hib disease by being around other children or adults who may have the bacteria and not know it. The germs spread from person to person. If the germs stay in the child’s nose and throat, the child probably will not get sick. But sometimes the germs spread into the lungs or the bloodstream, and then Hib can cause serious problems.
Before Hib vaccine, Hib disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis among children under 5 years old in the United States. Meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. It can lead to brain damage and deafness. Hib disease can also cause:
- pneumonia
- severe swelling in the throat, making it hard to breathe
- infections of the blood, joints, bones, and covering of the heart
- death
Before Hib vaccine, about 20,000 children in the United States under 5 years old got life-threatening Hib disease each year, and about 3% – 6% of them died.
Hib vaccine can prevent Hib disease. Since use of Hib vaccine began, the number of cases of invasive Hib disease has decreased by more than 99%. Many more children would get Hib disease if we stopped vaccinating.
2. Hib vaccine
Several different brands of Hib vaccine are available. Your child will receive either 3 or 4 doses, depending on which vaccine is used.
Doses of Hib vaccine are usually recommended at these ages:
– First Dose: 2 months of age
– Second Dose: 4 months of age
– Third Dose: 6 months of age (if needed, depending on brand of vaccine)
– Final Dose: 12–15 months of age
Hib vaccine may safely be given at the same time as other vaccines.
Hib vaccine may be given as part of a combination vaccine. Combination vaccines are made when two or more types of vaccine are combined together into a single shot, so that one vaccination can protect against more than one disease. Ask your doctor for more information.
People over 5 years old usually do not need Hib vaccine. But it may be given to older children or adults before surgery to remove the spleen or following a bone marrow transplant. It may also be given to anyone with certain health conditions such as sickle cell disease or HIV/AIDS. Ask your doctor for details.
3. Some people should not get this vaccine
Hib vaccine should not be given to infants younger than 6 weeks of age.
Tell your doctor:
- If the patient has any severe (life-threatening) allergies. If the patient has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of Hib vaccine, or has a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, he or she should not get a dose.
- If the patient is not feeling well. Your doctor might suggest waiting until the patient feels better. But you should come back.
4. Risks of a vaccine reaction
With a vaccine, like any medicine, there is a chance of side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own.
Serious side effects are also possible, but are very rare.
Most people who get Hib vaccine do not have any problems with it.
Mild Problems following Hib vaccine:
- redness, warmth, or swelling where the shot was given
- fever
These problems are uncommon. If they occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 2 or 3 days.
Problems that could happen after any vaccine:
- Brief fainting spells can happen after any medical procedure, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting, and injuries caused by a fall. Tell your doctor if the patient appears to feel dizzy, or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.
- Severe shoulder pain and reduced range of motion in the arm where a shot was given can happen, very rarely, after a vaccination.
- Severe allergic reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimated at less than 1 in a million doses. If one were to occur, it would usually be within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.
The safety of vaccines is always being monitored. For more information, visit: www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/
5. What if there is a serious reaction?
What should I look for?
- Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs of a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or behavior changes.Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These would usually start a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.
What should I do?
- If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other emergency that can’t wait, call 9-1-1 or get the person to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.
- Afterward, the reaction should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your doctor might file this report, or you can do it yourself through the VAERS web site at www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
VAERS is only for reporting reactions. They do not give medical advice.
Click link for Vaccine Information Sheet from CDC