Hib Vaccine Recommendations

Immunization Schedules

View current schedules for children, teens, and adults.

Below are summaries of recommendations from CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). For the full text of the recommendations, see Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) ACIP Vaccine Recommendations.

Routine Vaccination of Infants and Children

CDC recommends routine administration of a conjugate Hib vaccine series beginning at age 2 months (Table 1):

• Infants 2 through 6 months of age should receive either:
  • A 3-dose series of ActHIB^®, Hiberix^®, Pentacel^®, or Vaxelis™
  • A 2-dose series of PedvaxHIB^®
• You can administer the first dose as early as age 6 weeks.
• CDC recommends a booster dose of any licensed conjugate Hib vaccine at age 12 through 15 months.
  • Administer the booster dose at least 8 weeks after the most recent Hib vaccination.
  • The booster dose will be dose 3 or 4 depending on vaccine type used in the primary series.

Catch-up Guidance for Children 4 Months through 4 Years

The following “job-aids” provide catch-up guidance for Hib vaccination for children 4 months through 4 years of age. They include detailed scenarios by age group and previous number of doses received. These materials should assist healthcare professionals in interpreting Figure 2 of the Childhood/Adolescent Immunization Catch-up Schedule.

• Hib Vaccine Products: ActHIB^®, Pentacel^®, Hiberix^®, or Unknown [3 pages]
• Hib Vaccine Products: PedvaxHIB^® Vaccine Only [3 pages]

Contraindications and Precautions

You should not administer Hib vaccines to:

• A person who has ever had a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose
• A person who has a severe allergy to any vaccine component
• A person younger than 6 weeks

You may administer Hib vaccines, if you and the parent or patient deem the benefits of vaccination to outweigh the risks, to:

• A person who has a moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever Top of Page