Keeping track of your child’s immunization schedule is important for parents and caregivers. Each vaccine typically has a recommended schedule for administration, and some vaccines may be new or unfamiliar to you, such as the Hib vaccine.
The vaccine for haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib, is recommended for children between 2 to 15 months old to protect against Hib infection. Despite having “influenzae” in the name, Hib is actually a bacteria and does not cause the flu. However, Hib infections can cause serious illness, so it’s important to protect your child against it.
But what is Hib, and how does this vaccine differ from others in your child’s recommended vaccine schedule? We’ve got answers to all your Hib vaccine questions, including potential side effects and what the Hib vaccine schedule looks like for both children and adults.
What is the Hib vaccine? It’s the best protection against Hib infection.
The Hib vaccine was first introduced in 1985 with a new, more effective form following in 1987. It’s a multidose vaccine typically administered to children under 5 years old. Several combination vaccines also protect against Hib, as well as conditions like diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.
What is a Hib infection?
Hib is a type of bacteria that often lives in the lining of the nose and throat. It can cause many kinds of infections and illnesses. These infections typically affect children 5 years of age and under but can sometimes affect adults who are at greater risk of infection.
What infections does the Hib vaccine protect against?
Hib bacteria can cause mild illnesses such as bronchitis or ear infections, to more serious illnesses like meningitis, pneumonia and invasive Hib disease, a severe blood infection that requires hospitalization for treatment and can be life threatening.
While serious illness is rare, it’s important to make sure your child is protected. In fact, before the Hib vaccine was created, Hib was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis for children under 5 years old in the United States. Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection in the lining of the brain and spinal cord that can lead to brain damage and deafness.
Since infants and young children under 5 years old are most at risk for Hib infection and serious illness, it’s important to follow the recommended vaccine schedule to ensure maximum protection against Hib.
Is the Hib vaccine the same as the Hepatitis B vaccine?
No, the Hib vaccine and the Hepatitis B vaccine are not the same – the two conditions are unrelated. Hib is a type of bacteria that causes many different types of illnesses, such as bacterial meningitis, while Hepatitis B is the name of a virus and the liver infection it causes.
Hib vaccine effectiveness and possible side effects
The Hib vaccine is among several other recommended childhood immunizations to help protect children’s young immune systems. Here’s what parents and caregivers should know about the vaccine’s effectiveness and potential side effects.
The Hib vaccine is highly effective
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Hib vaccines are highly effective in producing immunity to Hib bacteria. More than 95% of infants develop protective antibody levels after receiving a primary series of 2-3 doses. Invasive Hib disease in a completely vaccinated infant is rare.
To put this into perspective, before the Hib vaccine was introduced, around 20,000 children in the United States became seriously ill with Hib disease each year, and about 1,000 children died annually. But thanks to widespread vaccination, today fewer than 50 cases occur each year in the U.S. That’s a 99.75% reduction in Hib cases and a powerful example of how vaccines save lives.
If a person experiences any Hib vaccine side effects, they’re typically mild. The most common side effects can include itching, redness at the injection site, low fever and soreness.
Hib vaccination schedule: What parents should know
The childhood immunization for Hib is usually administered in 3-4 doses or as part of a combination vaccine. The vaccine is an injection given in the thigh muscle for infants and the deltoid (upper arm) muscle for older children.
Infants will usually receive their first dose of the Hib vaccine at 2 months old, then again at 4 months old, 6 months old and 12-15 months old. The dose at 6 months old may not be necessary, as some types of the Hib vaccine only require three doses. Children between 15 months and 5 years of age who have not received the Hib vaccine should receive at least one dose.
While children over 5 years old and adults don’t usually receive the Hib vaccine, it may be recommended for those with certain health conditions, including:
- People whose spleen has been damaged or removed, including people with sickle cell disease
- People undergoing surgery to remove the spleen
- People who have received a bone marrow transplant
- Children 5-18 years old who are immunocompromised
Vaccine schedules are essential to ensuring proper protection against preventable illnesses and diseases. In order to best protect against Hib disease and the illnesses Hib can cause, it is important to follow the CDC recommended child and adult vaccination schedules.
Talk with your doctor about the Hib vaccine or your child’s vaccination schedule
If you have questions, we have answers. We have a team of family medicine doctors and pediatricians who are experts in kids’ health. They can talk with you about specific vaccines, walk you through the vaccination schedule, make recommendations based on your child’s medical and immunization history, and more.
Immunization schedules align with well-child visits, so if your child is due for their next checkup, you’ll be able to get any recommended vaccines at that time. If your child needs to catch up on vaccines, you can make an immunization-only appointment.
