Children are susceptible to several types of diseases, including those caused by bacteria such as haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). This can cause a variety of mild to severe illnesses. The Hib vaccine is one way that can be taken to prevent this from happening.
This vaccine is highly recommended for children in their immunization series. Adults with certain conditions are also advised to receive the vaccine.
What is the Hib Vaccine?
The Hib vaccine is a vaccine to prevent infection due to haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
Hib bacteria can cause various types of infections that usually attack children under the age of 5 years.
However, in some cases, this infection can also attack adults with certain medical conditions.
Hib bacteria can cause mild illnesses, such as ear infections or bronchitis, or they can cause serious illnesses, such as blood infections.
Severe Hib infections, also called “invasive Hib disease,” require hospitalization and can sometimes lead to death.
The Hib vaccine is made from purified Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) capsules.
All Hib vaccines use polyribosyltribitol phosphate (PRP) as the polysaccharide, but 4 different protein carriers are used in the 4 available Hib conjugate vaccines:
- Diphtheria toxoid (PRP-D)
- Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane protein (PRP-OMP)
- Tetanus toxoid (PRP-T)
- Diphtheria mutant carrier protein CRM197 (HbOC)
Combination vaccines containing the Hib conjugate vaccine include DTaP-IPV/Hib (Pentacel®) and Hib-HepB (COMVAX®).
Functions and Benefits
This vaccine functions to provide long-term protection from Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
Before the Hib vaccine, Hib disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children under 5 years of age in the United States.
Meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. It can cause brain damage and deafness.
In addition, the Hib vaccine can also prevent diseases such as:
- Pneumonia
- Severe swelling in the throat, making it difficult to breathe
- Infections of the blood, joints, bones, and heart lining
- Death
Hib Vaccine Schedule
Parents may wonder, when should children receive the Hib vaccine?
Quoted from kids health , the Hib vaccine can be given by injection to children aged:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months (however, some Hib vaccines do not require a dose at 6 months)
- booster dose at 12-15 months
Children 15 months of age or older who are receiving the vaccine for the first time only need one dose.
Meanwhile, children aged 12 months to 59 months (almost 5 years) may need more doses if their immune systems are weakened or because of other medical conditions they have, such as:
- asplenia (when the spleen is missing or doesn’t function well)
- HIV infection
- chemotherapy or radiation treatment
- stem cell transplant
This vaccine is not routinely recommended for children older than 5 years unless they have a condition that weakens the immune system and have not been previously vaccinated.
Sometimes, doctors give the Hib vaccine in combination with other vaccines, such as DTaP, IPV, or HepB.
Can the Hib Vaccine Be Delayed?
The Hib vaccine should be given according to the recommended schedule.
However, if your child has certain conditions, you should postpone your child from receiving the Hib vaccine. These conditions include:
- the child is sick, but if it is only a common cold or other minor illness it should not prevent immunization
- have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous Hib vaccine or have a latex allergy (for some types of Hib vaccines only)
Who is Recommended to Get the Hib Vaccine?
The Hib vaccine is one of the vaccines that is highly recommended as part of a child’s immunization series.
However, this vaccine is not just for children. The Hib vaccine is also recommended for people with the following conditions:
- Adults with anatomic or functional asplenia and those scheduled for elective splenectomy if they are not immunized (i.e., if they have not previously received a primary series plus a booster dose or 1 dose of Hib vaccine after 14 months of age), although some experts recommend administering a dose prior to elective splenectomy regardless of vaccination history.
- Adults with conditionsimmunocompromised(for example, due to cancer chemotherapy or HIV infection) if they are not immunized
- People who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation regardless of their vaccination history
Contraindications
Before scheduling your child to receive the Hib vaccine, make sure you know in advance what the contraindications are for this vaccine.
The primary contraindication to Hib vaccine is a severe allergic reaction (eg, anaphylaxis) following a previous dose or to any component of the vaccine.
Meanwhile, if your child has a moderate or severe illness with or without fever, vaccination should be postponed until the illness has resolved.
Dosage and Method of Administration
Of course, there are differences in dosage and how to give it to children according to their respective age ranges.
In general, the Hib vaccine is usually given in 3 or 4 doses depending on the brand and formulation. A single dose of Hib vaccine is 0.5 mL IM.
The following is the dosage and method of administering the Hib vaccine according to the child’s age:
Typically, babies will receive their first dose of Hib vaccine at 2 months of age and will complete the Hib vaccine series at 12-15 months of age.
- Children are between 12 months and 5 years old
Children in this age range who have not previously been fully vaccinated against Hib may require 1 or more doses of Hib vaccine.
- Children over 5 years and adults
This age group does not usually receive the Hib vaccine, but it may be recommended for older children or adults whose spleens are damaged or have been removed.
This also includes people with sickle cell disease, before surgery to remove the spleen, or after a bone marrow transplant.
The Hib vaccine may also be recommended for someone aged 5 to 18 years with HIV .
The Hib vaccine can be given as a stand-alone vaccine, or as part of a combination vaccine (a type of vaccine that combines more than one vaccine into one shot). The Hib vaccine can also be given at the same time as other vaccines.
Possible Side Effects or Risks
After the Hib vaccine is given, some children may experience side effects, although this is rare. One condition that may appear is redness, swelling, or pain at the injection site.
Children may also experience fever, fussiness, and irritability after vaccination.
To relieve pain and fever, ask your child’s doctor if you can give him acetaminophen or ibuprofen , and ask for the right dosage for him.
Some adults also sometimes faint after medical procedures, including vaccinations. Consult your doctor or nurse if you feel dizzy or have changes in vision or ringing in the ears.
In addition, there is also a very small chance of an allergic reaction. This can happen with any vaccine.
Don’t worry about contracting a disease caused by Hib, because the Hib vaccine only contains a small portion of the germ so it cannot cause the disease.
When to Call a Doctor?
Before vaccination, if your child is in good health then there is no need to worry about getting the Hib vaccine.
However, if you are unsure whether a vaccine should be postponed or avoided due to a medical condition your child has, you should consult a doctor.
While after the vaccine is given, there are rarely any side effects that will be experienced by the patient. However, if there is a moderate or serious reaction to the body after the Hib vaccine, contact a doctor immediately.
Hib vaccine is a preventive measure that you can take to protect your child or yourself from various dangerous diseases. Hopefully this information is useful.
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Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia
