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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 |
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Severe swelling in the throat, making it hard to breathe |
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Infections of the blood, joints, bones, and covering of the heart |
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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.
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
People who have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of Hib vaccine should not get another dose.
Children less than 6 weeks of age should not get Hib vaccine.
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.
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.
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
People who have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of Hib vaccine should not get another dose.
Children less than 6 weeks of age should not get Hib vaccine.
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) |
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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.
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.
Call a doctor or get the person to a doctor right away |
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Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given |
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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. |
SOURCE:
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Immunization Program; October 2001
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 |
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jaundice (yellow skin or eyes) |
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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. |
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Persons who live in communities that have prolonged outbreaks of hepatitis A. |
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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. |
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Men who have sex with men. |
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Persons who use street drugs. |
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Persons with chronic liver disease. |
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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. |
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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) |
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headache (about 1 out of 6 adults and 1 out of 20 children) |
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loss of appetite (about 1 out of 6 adults and 1 out of 20 children) |
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loss of appetite (about 1 out of 12 children) |
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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. |
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Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given |
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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?
Ask your health care provider. 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://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 |
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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.