Vaccination

What is Hib disease?

HIB.

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease is a serious disease caused by a bacteria. It usually strikes children under 5 years old.

 

Your child can get Hib disease by being around other children or adults who may have the bacteria and not know it. The germs spread from person to person. If the germs stay in the child’s nose and throat, the child probably will not get sick. But sometimes the germs spread into the lungs or the bloodstream, and then Hib can cause serious problems.

 

Before Hib vaccine, Hib disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis among children under 5 years old in the United States. 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 in the throat, making it hard to breathe
	Infections of the blood, joints, bones, and covering of the heart
	Death

 

Before Hib vaccine, about 20,000 children in the United States under 5 years old got severe Hib disease each year and nearly 1000 people died.

 

Hib vaccine can prevent Hib disease

Many more children would get Hib disease if we stopped vaccinating.

 

Who should get Hib vaccine and when?

Children should get Hib vaccine at:

 

~  2 months of age                    ~ 6 months of age*

~  4 months of age                    ~  12-15 months of age

 

*Depending on what brand of Hib vaccine is used, your child might not need

 the dose at 6 months of age. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if this dose

is needed.

 

If you miss a dose or get behind schedule, get the next dose as soon as you can. There is no need to start over.

 

Hib vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

 

Older children and Adults

Children over 5 years old usually do not need Hib vaccine. But some older children or adults with special health conditions should get it. These conditions include sickle cell disease, HIV/AIDS, removal of the spleen, bone marrow transplant, or cancer treatment with drugs. Ask your doctor or nurse for details.

 

Some people should not get Hib vaccine or should wait

 

1. People who have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of Hib vaccine should not get another dose.

2. Children less than 6 weeks of age should not get Hib vaccine.

3. People who are moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting Hib vaccine.

 

Ask your doctor or nurse for more information.

 

What are the risks from Hib vaccine?

A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of Hib vaccine causing serious harm or death is extremely small.

 

Most people who get Hib vaccine do not have any problems with it.

 

Mild Problems

	Redness, warmth, or swelling where the shot was given (up to ¼ of children)
	Fever over 101 oF (up to 1 out of 20 children)

 

If these problems happen, they usually start within a day of vaccination. They may last 2-3 days.

 

What should I look for?

Any unusual condition, such as a serious allergic reaction, high fever or behavior changes. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat, or dizziness within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot.

 

What should I do?

	Call a doctor or get the person to a doctor right away
	Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given
	Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form, or call VAERS yourself at 1-800-822-7967.

 

http://web.archive.org/web/20040902045248/http://www.cdc.gov/nip 

 

SOURCE:

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Immunization Program; October 2001

 

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HEPATITIS A VACCINE

 

What is hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is found in the stool of persons with hepatitis A. It is usually spread by close personal contact and sometimes by eating food or drinking water containing HAV.

 

 

Hepatitis A can cause:

	mild “flu-like” illness
	jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)
	severe stomach pains and diarrhea

 

People with hepatitis A infection often have to be hospitalized. In rare cases, hepatitis A causes death.

 

A person who has hepatitis A can easily pass the disease to others within the same household.

 

Hepatitis A vaccine can prevent hepatitis A.

 

Who should get hepatitis A vaccine and when?

	Persons 2 years of age and older traveling or working in countries with high rates of hepatitis A, such as those located in Central or South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Asia (except Japan), Africa, and southern or eastern Europe. The vaccine series should be started at least one month before traveling.
	Persons who live in communities that have prolonged outbreaks of hepatitis A.
	Persons who live in communities with high rates of hepatitis A: for example, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander communities and some religious communities.
	Men who have sex with men.
	Persons who use street drugs.
	Persons with chronic liver disease.
	Persons who receive clotting factor concentrates.

 

Two doses of the vaccine, given at least 6 months apart, are needed for lasting protection.

 

Hepatitis A vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

 

 

Some people should not get hepatitis A vaccine or should wait

	People who have ever had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose of hepatitis A vaccine should not get another dose.
	People who are mildly ill at the time the shot is scheduled should get hepatitis A vaccine. People with moderate or severe illnesses should usually wait until they recover. Your doctor or nurse can advise you.

 

The safety of hepatitis A vaccine for pregnant women is not yet known. But any risk to either the pregnant woman or the fetus is thought to be very low.

 

Ask your doctor or nurse for details.

 

What are the risks from hepatitis A vaccine?

A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of hepatitis A vaccine causing serious harm, or death is extremely small.

 

Getting hepatitis A vaccine is much safer than getting the disease.

 

Mild problems

	soreness where the shot was given (about 1 out of 2 adults, and up to 1 out of 5 children)
	headache (about 1 out of 6 adults and 1 out of 20 children)
	loss of appetite (about 1 out of 6 adults and 1 out of 20 children)
	loss of appetite (about 1 out of 12 children)
	tiredness (about 1 out of 14 adults)

 

If these problems occur, they usually come 3-5 days after vaccination and last for 1 or 2 days.

 

Severe problems

Serious allergic reaction, within a few minutes to a few hours of the shot (very rare).

 

What if there is a moderate or severe reaction?

 

What should I look for?

Any unusual condition, such as a high fever or behavior changes. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness.

 

What should I do?

	Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right away.
	Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given
	Ask your doctor, nurse or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form, or call VAERS yourself at 1-800-822-7967.

How can I learn more? 

1. Ask your health care provider. They can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.

2. Call your local or state health department’s immunization program.

3. Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

4. Call 1-800-232-2522 (English)

5. Call 1-800-232-0233 (Espanol)

6. Visit the National Immunization Program’s website at http://web.archive.org/web/20040902045248/http://www.cdc.gov/nip

 

Immune Globulin (IG)

 

Immune globulin can provide temporary immunity to hepatitis A.

 

Who should get IG?

	Persons who have been exposed to HAV and can get IG within 2 weeks of that exposure
	Travelers to areas with high rates of hepatitis A, if they do not receive hepatitis A vaccine.`

 

When should IG be given?

It can be given before exposure to HAV or within 2 weeks after exposure

 

Benefits

IG protects against HAV for 3-5 months, depending on dosage.

 

Risks

Rare: swelling, hives, or allergic reaction.

These important vaccinations:

	Anthrax Vaccine
	Haemophilus Influenza type b (Hib) Vaccine
	Pneumococcal Vaccine
	Influenza Vaccine
	Hepatitis B Vaccine
	Hepatitis A Vaccine
	Lyme Disease Vaccine
	Varicella (Chickenpox)
	Measles, Mump, Rubella (MMR)
	Meningococcal Vaccine
	Polio Vaccine
	Tetanus Diphtheria (Td) Toxoid

Prevention is easier than looking for a cure.

ANTHRAXVACINE

What you need to know

What is anthrax?

Anthrax is a serious disease that can affect both animals and humans. It is caused by bacteria called Bacilus anthracis. People can get anthrax from contact with infected animals, wool, meat, or hides. In its most common form, anthrax is a skin disease that causes skin ulcers and usually fever and fatigue. Up to 20% of these cases are fatal if untreated.

When B. anthracis is inhaled, as when used as a biological weapon, it is much more serious. The first symptoms may include a sore throat, mild fever and muscle aches. But within several days these symptoms are followed by severe breathing problems, shock, and often meningitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord covering). Once symptoms appear, this form of anthrax is almost always fatal, despite treatment with antibiotics.

What is anthrax vaccine?

Anthrax vaccine protects against anthrax disease. The U.S. vaccine does not contain actual B. anthracis cells and it does not cause anthrax disease. Anthrax vaccine was licensed in 1970.

Based on limited but convincing evidence, the vaccine protects against both cutaneous (skin) and inhalational anthrax.

Who should get anthrax vaccine and when?

People 18 to 65 years of age potentially exposed to large amounts of B. anthracis bacteria on the job, such as laboratory workers.

Military personnel who may be at risk of anthrax exposure from weapons.

The basic vaccine series consists of 6 doses:

	The first three doses are given at two-week intervals.
	Three additional doses are given, each one 6 months after the previous dose.

Annual booster doses are needed for ongoing protection.

If a dose is not given at the scheduled time, the series does not have to be started over. Resume the series as soon as practical.

Anthrax vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

Some people should not get anthrax vaccine or should wait

1. Anyone who has had a serious allergic reaction to a previous does of anthrax vaccine should not get another dose.

2. Anyone who has recovered from cutaneous (skin) anthrax should not get the vaccine.

3. Pregnant women should not be routinely vaccinated with anthrax vaccine. This is merely a precaution. There is no evidence that the vaccine is harmful to either a pregnant woman or her unborn baby. Vaccination may be recommended for pregnant women who have been exposed, or are likely to be exposed, to anthrax.

4. There is no reason to delay childbearing after either the man or the woman gets anthrax vaccine.

5. Vaccines, including anthrax vaccine, are safe to give to breast-feeding women.

What are the risks from anthrax vaccine?

Getting anthrax disease is much more dangerous than any risk from the vaccine.

Like any medicine, a vaccine is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of anthrax vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.

Mild Problems

	Soreness, redness, or itching where the shot was given (about 1 out of 10 men, about 1 out of 6 women)
	A lump where the shot was given (about 1 person out of 2)
	Muscle aches or joint aches ( about 1 person out of 5)
	Headaches (about 1 person out of 5)
	Fatigue (about 1 out of 15 men, about 1 out of 6 women)
	Chills or fever (about 1 person out of 20)
	Nausea (about 1 person out of 20).

Moderate Problems

Large areas of redness where the shot was given (up to 1 person out of 20).

Severe Problems

Serious allergic reaction (very rare – less than once in 100,000 doses).

As with any vaccine, other sever problems have been reported. But these events appear to occur no more often among anthrax vaccine recipients than among unvaccinated people.

There is no evidence that anthrax vaccine causes sterility, birth defects, or long-term health problems.

Independent civilian committees have not found anthrax vaccination to be a factor in unexplained illnesses among Gulf War veterans.

What if there is a moderate or severe reaction?

What should I look for?

Any unusual condition, such as a severe allergic reaction or a high fever. If a severe allergic occurred, it would happen within a few minutes to an hour after the shot. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, weakness, hoarseness or wheezing, a fast heart beat, hives, dizziness, paleness, or swelling of the throat. 

What should I do?

	Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right away.
	Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given.
	Ask your health care provider to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form if you have a reaction to the vaccine, or call VAERS yourself at 1-800-822-7967.

How can I learn more?

	Ask your doctor or other health care provider. They can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.
	Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
	Call 1-800-232-2522 (English)
	Call 1-800-232-0233 (Espanol)
	Visit the CDC’s website at http://web.archive.org/web/20040902045248/http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/anthrax-g.htm
	Contact the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD):
	Call 1-877-438-8222
	Visit the DoD website at http://web.archive.org/web/20040902045248/http://www.anthrax.osd.mil/

SOURCE:

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Immunization Program; October 2001Back to Top

CHICKENPOX VACCINE

What you need to know

Why get vaccinated?

Chickenpox (also called varicella) is a common childhood disease. It is usually mild, but it can be serious, especially in young infants and adults. 

	The chickenpox virus can be spread from person to person through the air, or by contact with fluid from chickenpox blisters.
	It causes a rash, itching, fever, and tiredness.
	It can lead to severe skin infection, scars, pneumonia, brain damage, or death.
	A person who has had chickenpox can get a painful rash called shingles years later.
	About 12,000 people are hospitalized for chickenpox each year in the United States.
	About 100 people die each year in the United States as a result of chickenpox.

Chickenpox vaccine can prevent chickenpox

Most people who get chickenpox vaccine will not get chickenpox. But if someone who has been vaccinated does get chickenpox, it is usually very mild. They will have fewer spots, are less likely to have a fever, and will recover faster.

Who should get chickenpox vaccine and when?

	Children should get 1 dose of chickenpox vaccine between 12 and 18 months of age or at any age after that if they have never had chickenpox.
	People who do not get the vaccine until 13 years of age or older should get 2 doses, 4-8 weeks apart.
	Ask your doctor or nurse for details.
	Chickenpox vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

Some people should not get chickenpox vaccine or should wait

	People should not get chickenpox vaccine if they have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or (for those needing a second dose) a previous dose of chickenpox vaccine.
	People who are moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting chickenpox vaccine.
	Pregnant women should wait to get chickenpox vaccine until after they have given birth. Women should not get pregnant for 1 month after getting chickenpox vaccine.
	Some people should check with their doctor about whether they should get chickenpox vaccine, including anyone who:
	Has HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system
	Is being treated with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids, for 2 weeks or longer
	Has any kind of cancer
	Is taking cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs
	People who recently had a transfusion or were given other blood products should ask their doctor when they may get chickenpox vaccine.

Ask your doctor or nurse for more information.

What are the risks from chickenpox vaccine?

A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of chickenpox vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.

Getting chickenpox vaccine is much safer than getting chickenpox disease.

Most people who get chickenpox vaccine do not have any problems with it.

Mild Problems

	Soreness or swelling where the shot was given (about 1 out of 5 children and up to 1 out of 3 adolescents and adults)
	Fever (1 person out of 10, or less)
	Mild rash, up to a month after vaccination (1 person out of 20, or less). It is possible for these people to infect other members of their household, but this is extremely rare.

Moderate Problems

Seizure (jerking or staring) caused by fever (less than 1 person out of 1,000).

Severe Problems

Pneumonia (very rare)

Other serious problems, including severe brain reactions and low blood count, have been reported after chickenpox vaccination. These happen so rarely experts cannot tell whether they are caused by the vaccine or not. If they are, it is extremely rare.

What if there is a moderate or severe reaction?

What should I look for?

Any unusual condition, such as allergic reaction, high fever or behavior changes. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. A high fever or seizure, if it occurs, would happen 1 to 6 weeks after the shot.

What should I do?

	Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right away.
	Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given.
	Ask your health care provider to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form if you have a reaction to the vaccine, or call VAERS yourself at 1-800-822-7967.

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

In the rare event that you or your child has a serious reaction to a vaccine, a federal program has been created to help you pay for the care of those who have been harmed.

For details about the National Vaccine Injury

Compensation Program, call 1-800-338-2382 or visit the program’s website at http://web.archive.org/web/20040902045248/http://www.hrsa.gov./bhpr/vicp/

How can I learn more?

	Ask your doctor or nurse. They can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.
	Call your local or state health department’s immunization program.
	Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

        -        Call 1-800-232-2522 (English)

        -        Call 1-800-232-0233 (Espanol)

        -        Visit the National Immunization Program’s website at http://www.cdc.gov/nipk to Top

-     Visit the National Immunization Program’s website at http://web.archive.org/web/20040902045248/http://www.cdc.go

SOURCE:

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Immunization Program; October 2001ck to Top

HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B (Hib) VACCINE