Hib Vaccine
Alternate Names : Haemophilus Influenzae B Conjugate Vaccine, Haemophilus Influenzae Type B
This vaccine is given to prevent infections caused by
Haemophilus influenzae type b, called Hib, bacteria. These
bacteria grow in the upper airway of children and adults. Most of the time, they
do not cause any problems. However, they can cause serious illnesses,
such as:
bacterial meningitis,
an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord
septic arthritis,
an infection of the joints
cellulitis,
an infection of the skin and tissue underneath it
bacteremia, a blood infection
pneumonia,
or lung infection
epiglottitis,
an infection of a portion of the voice box, known as the larynx
Before a Hib vaccine was made, there were about
20,000 Hib infections each year in the US, which caused up to 1,000
deaths. Hib was the most common cause of
bacterial meningitis
among children younger than age 5. The number of reported cases has
dropped greatly since 1990. In 1995, there were only 259 cases reported.
Who is a candidate for the procedure?
Hib is one of the recommended childhood vaccines. Depending on the
actual vaccine preparation used, a series of shots are usually given at ages:
2 months
4 months
6 months
12 to 15 months
The vaccine is not routinely recommended for children over age
5. There is very little Hib disease in children older than 2. If a child has never had this
vaccine by the age of 15 months, only one shot is given at that time.
How is the procedure performed?
A shot of the vaccine is given in the muscle of the thigh or
arm. The area is cleaned with an antibacterial swab before the shot.
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