Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Hib Vaccine - Q&A for Parents about the Return to the Hib "Booster" Dose
Questions on this page:
-
What are a "primary vaccination" and a "booster dose"?
For most vaccines, more than one dose is needed for full protection. Each of the first doses, called “primary vaccination” or “the primary series” provides some protection. They also “prime” or prepare the immune system to develop stronger and stronger immunity as each dose of vaccine is received. The final dose, given several months after the primary series is called the “booster” because it is needed to boost protection to a high, long-lasting level.
For Hib, depending on which brand of vaccine your doctor uses, the primary doses are given at 2 and 4 months of age or at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. For Hib vaccine, by age 12 through 15 months, it's time for a booster dose.
Why was there a shortage of Hib vaccine and why is the shortage getting better?
The shortage occurred because one of the two manufacturers temporarily could not make Hib vaccine. This left only one manufacturer of the vaccine. This one manufacturer is now making more Hib vaccine, allowing children to receive the booster dose at 12 through 15 months of age.
Is the Hib vaccine safe?
Yes. The Hib vaccine used today is technically known as Hib conjugate vaccine, and it is a very safe vaccine, as are all vaccines recommended to be given to children in this country. To make sure that vaccines are safe, they first need to be licensed by the FDA. The FDA only licenses vaccines after studies show that they are safe. After vaccines are licensed, FDA and CDC monitor their use, including any reports of side effect. Hib conjugate vaccines have been used extensively in this country and around the world for more than 10 years, and during this time, the vaccine has proven to be as safe as the first testing indicated that it would be. The vaccine has been given to millions of children.
Reactions following Hib conjugate vaccines are uncommon. Local swelling, redness, or pain at the site of injection have been reported in 5%-30% of children receiving Hib vaccine. Serious adverse reactions are extremely rare.
What is Hib disease?
Hib disease is a serious infection caused by a bacteria (Haemophilus influenzae type b). Before Hib vaccine, Hib disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis among children under 5 years old. Meningitis is an infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings which can lead to lasting brain damage and deafness. Hib disease can also cause pneumonia, severe swelling of the throat, infection of the blood, joints, bones, and covering of the heart, and can lead to death. Hib vaccine can prevent Hib disease.
Return to main Hib (For Providers and Parents) page
This symbol means you are leaving the CDC.gov Web site. For more information, please see CDC's Exit Notification and Disclaimer policy.
File Formats: All viewers, players, and plug-ins used on this site can be downloaded from the file formats page. (For example: Adobe Acrobat Reader for pdf files, Windows Media Player for audio and video files, PowerPoint Viewer for presentation slides, etc.)
Content last reviewed on October 5, 2009
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases