Hib Vaccine Recommendations

Key points

  • CDC recommends Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccination for children younger than 5 years old.
  • CDC only recommends Hib vaccination for older children and adults under special situations.
  • Follow the recommended immunization schedule to ensure that your patients get the Hib vaccines that they need.
Mom holding baby following vaccination at a doctor's office.

Background

Vaccine providers in the United States use various conjugate Hib vaccines. Some of these vaccines are monovalent (i.e., Hib-only), while others include vaccines for other diseases (i.e., combination vaccines).

Hib-only
  • ActHIB®
  • Hiberix®
  • PedvaxHIB®
Combination vaccines
  • Pentacel®
  • Vaxelis™

The following summarizes CDC's current age-based Hib vaccine recommendations. Access the official, full text of CDC's current and historical Hib vaccine recommendations:

Routine recommendations

CDC recommends routine administration of a Hib vaccine series beginning at age 2 months.

Infants 2 through 6 months of age

Administer a primary series of one of the following:

  • 3 doses of ActHIB®, Hiberix®, Pentacel®, or Vaxelis™
  • 2 doses of PedvaxHIB®

Vaccine providers can administer the first dose as early as age 6 weeks.

Children 12 through 15 months of age

CDC recommends a booster dose of ActHIB®, Hiberix®, Pentacel®, or PedvaxHIB® 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.

Vaxelis™ is only indicated for use in infants at ages 2, 4, and 6 months. Don't use this product for the booster dose.

Catch-up guidance

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.

Special situations

CDC doesn't recommend Hib vaccination for most people ages 5 years or older unless they

  • Have certain medical conditions and are unvaccinated
  • Receive a hematopoietic stem cell transplant

CDC recommends Hib vaccination for children and adults following successful hematopoietic stem cell transplant regardless of Hib vaccination history.

Children with certain medical conditions

CDC may recommend Hib vaccination for children depending on their vaccine history for the following medical conditions:

  • Chemotherapy or radiation treatment
  • Anatomic or functional asplenia (including sickle cell disease)
  • Elective splenectomy
  • HIV infection
  • Immunoglobulin deficiency, early component complement deficiency

Learn more about these special situations for children.

Adults with certain medical conditions

CDC may recommend Hib vaccination for adults depending on their vaccine history. This would apply for the special situations of having anatomical or functional asplenia (including sickle cell disease).

Learn more about these special situations for adults.

Resources

Contraindications and precautions

General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization

Pink Book chapter on Haemophilus influenzae

Immunization schedules

Child and adolescent immunization schedule

Adult immunization schedule

Hib Vaccine Information Statement

English | Other languages

Other resources

Use of vaccines to prevent meningitis in persons with cochlear implants

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Content Source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; Division of Bacterial Diseases