The HIB vaccine is a vaccine against the Haemophilus influenzae type B bacterium. This germ used to infect thousands of infants and toddlers every year, causing sepsis (blood infection), meningitis, brain damage and death. A vaccine was first developed against this disease in 1985; there are currently several available. It is interesting that in a very short time, this disease has all but disappeared in children; current pediatricians in training will likely never see a single case through all their years of training.
The disease
Hib disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in young children, and it infected about 20,000 children a year in the U.S. About 1 in 20 children infected died from the disease; many more (about 25%) suffered brain damage. The germ also causes pneumonia and a dangerous throat infection called epiglottitis. The germ can be spread from person to person by coughing, sneezing, and breathing. A person can carry the germ without getting sick, and then a cold or the flu leads to the germ infecting the ears, sinuses, lungs, or bloodstream, where it quickly spreads, often causing meningitis.
The vaccine
The vaccine is given in either 3 or 4 doses, depending on the particular vaccine brand. It is given at 2 and 4 months of age. One brand requires a dose at 6 months; the other does not. The last dose is given at 12-15 months of age. If a child receives at least one dose at 15 months or older, no other doses are required. Both brands of the vaccine can be given alone; it can also be given as part of the Comvax combined vaccine.
Side effects
This vaccine has few if any side effects. It cannot cause any form of Hib disease, and it is not known to cause any serious reactions. It may cause low grade fever (101), redness, warmth, and/or slight swelling at the injection site. These mild reactions can start within one day and last 2-3 days.
Risks vs. benefits
The vaccine has no known serious side effects and has been proven to be safe and highly effective. The disease is common, serious, and often fatal. This disease has all but disappeared thanks to the vaccine and most children receiving it, which decreases the spread of the germ to others, including unimmuized children and infants too young to have received the vaccine. The benefits of this vaccine far outweigh the risks at this time.
Resources
Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae type b) Vaccine Information Statement (CDC)
References
Prevention and Control of Haemophilus influenzae Type b Disease: Recommendations of the ACIP, 2014 MMWR, February 28, 2014, Vol 63, #RR01
