Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) Vaccine

Hib vaccine can prevent Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease.

Haemophilus influenzae type b can cause many different kinds of infections. These infections usually affect children under 5 years of age but can also affect adults with certain medical conditions. Hib bacteria can cause mild illness, such as ear infections or bronchitis, or they can cause severe illness, such as infections of the blood. Severe Hib infection, also called “invasive Hib disease,” requires treatment in a hospital and can sometimes result in death.

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 infection 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

Hib vaccine is usually given in 3 or 4 doses (depending on brand).

Infants will usually get their first dose of Hib vaccine at 2 months of age and will usually complete the series at 12 – 15 months of age.

Children between 12 months and 5 years of age who have not previously been completely vaccinated against Hib may need 1 or more doses of Hib vaccine.

Children over 5 years old and adults usually do not receive Hib vaccine, but it might be recommended for older children or adults whose spleen is damaged or has been removed, including people with sickle cell disease, before surgery to remove the spleen, or following a bone marrow transplant. Hib vaccine may also be recommended for people 5 through 18 years old with HIV.

Hib vaccine may be given as a stand-alone vaccine, or as part of a combination vaccine (a type of vaccine that combines more than one vaccine together into one shot).

Hib vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

Tell your vaccination provider if the person getting the vaccine:

• Has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of Hib vaccine, or has any severe, life-threatening allergies

In some cases, your health care provider may decide to postpone Hib vaccination until a future visit.

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting Hib vaccine.

Your health care provider can give you more information.

• Redness, warmth, and swelling where the shot is given and fever can happen after Hib vaccination.

People sometimes faint after medical procedures, including vaccination. Tell your provider if you feel dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury, or death.