Do you need to vaccinate your child with the Hib vaccine? The answer is yes because it protects from a severe infection called Haemophilus influenzae type B disease (Hib). It is a bacterial infection that causes severe infections in different parts of the body, which can lead to severe complications and even death. Getting this vaccine is the only way to prevent this infection and stop it from spreading. Learn everything you should know about the Hib vaccine in this FAQs section. Reach out to us on https://doralhw.org/contact-us/ for a consultation with the best infectious disease doctors in Brooklyn, New York.
Hib Vaccine Explained (Common FAQs)
These FAQs help you to understand everything you need to know about the Hib vaccine.
What is Haemophilus influenzae type B disease (Hib)?
Ans. It is a bacterial infection caused by Haemophilus influenzae bacteria that mostly affects children younger than 5 years, but also adults with some health conditions. Typically, not everyone with these bacteria gets sick, but they become carriers who spread this disease to other people via respiratory droplets. This disease causes severe infections depending on the part that is infected, such as:
- Meningitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord lining)
- Bacteremia (infection in the bloodstream)
- Pneumonia (infection in the lungs)
- Epiglottitis (infection in the throat)
While it can be treated with antibiotics, sometimes it can develop resistance. In severe cases, it can cause serious complications like brain damage, hearing or vision loss, deafness, intellectual disability, and even death. The best way to prevent this infection is to get vaccinated.
Why is the Hib vaccine important?
Ans. The Hib vaccine is very important to provide long-term protection from Hib disease, which can be very serious for infants and young children. This disease can cause serious infections in different parts of the body, such as the brain, lungs, skin, blood, bones, and joints, which can lead to severe complications or death. The best way to prevent this disease from spreading is to get your child vaccinated with the Hib vaccine. It also protects the people who can’t get vaccinated due to any health reason, especially during outbreaks, if the majority of people are vaccinated. It is called herd or community immunity.
Who should get the Hib vaccine and when?
Ans. All infants and children should get the Hib vaccine as part of the routine vaccine schedule. Children’s doses depend on the brand of Hib vaccine they get, usually 3 to 4 doses according to their age:
- First dose: Get at the age of 2 months.
- Second dose: Get the age of 4 months
- Third dose: Get the age of 6 months (if they’re getting 4 doses, otherwise some may skip this dose)
- Fourth dose: Get this dose at the age of 12 to 15 months
Children around the age of 2 through 18 months old also get this vaccine with the combination of the Tdap vaccine to protect against Hib disease, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, and polio. This vaccine is called the DTaP-IPV/Hib vaccine. You can talk with your doctor about which vaccine is right for your child.
In case you missed the vaccine before the age of 5 years, then usually you don’t need the Hib vaccine. However, in some cases, your doctor may recommend that you get the Hib vaccine, such as:
- You have a damaged spleen or sickle cell disease
- You had a bone marrow transplant
- You’re taking radiation or chemotherapy.
- You have HIV
Make sure you talk with your doctor about it and ways to protect your family from Hib disease.
Who should avoid getting the Hib vaccine?
Ans. Some people should avoid getting the Hib vaccine because it causes serious health issues. It includes:
- Infants younger than 6 weeks.
- People who have developed a life-threatening allergic reaction from a previous Hib vaccine shot.
- People who have a serious allergy to any of the Hib vaccine ingredients.
If you’re sick, you should wait until you’re feeling better to get the Hib vaccine, and tell your doctor about any serious allergies before getting vaccinated.
Are there any side effects of the Hib vaccine?
Ans. Like other vaccines, the Hib vaccine may cause mild side effects like fever, pain, redness, and swelling in the area where the shot is injected, which get better in a couple of days. In some cases, children may feel dizzy, experience vision changes, or have ringing in the ears, which should be reported to the doctor. Rarely, the vaccine causes a severe allergic reaction that needs immediate medical attention.
How to care for your child after the Hib vaccine?
Ans. For pain or fever, you can talk with your doctor to know whether you can give acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and what the right dose is. Avoid giving ibuprofen to babies under 6 months unless your doctor suggests you do so. To reduce swelling, use a cool, damp cloth or a heating pad at the site of the shot.
When should you call the doctor after the Hib vaccine?
Ans. You should call your doctor after the Hib vaccine if your child shows any of the symptoms of an allergic reaction, like swelling, redness of the face, hives, high fever, etc.
The Hib vaccine is a crucial vaccine to protect your infants and children from the serious Haemophilus influenzae bacterium, which leads to severe infections in different parts of the body. It is treatable with antibodies, but it gets severe very quickly and causes severe complications like brain damage, blindness, deafness, intellectual disability, or even death. Before the vaccination was introduced, many children and infants died from it. After the vaccine, there is a significant decline in deaths and serious complications in children. That’s why your child and newborns must get all the Hib vaccine doses to develop immunity to this disease. Need help getting a Hib vaccine? Visit our infectious disease specialists in the Brooklyn clinic to get professional medical help. Book your appointment now, call us on + 1-718-367-2555 to get treated! Learn more about infectious diseases at www.doralhw.org. and stay up to date on current health topics and new research, on recent infectious diseases like COVID-19. If you need help, register your information and make direct contact with our doctors at https://yuz88hfiyh7.typeform.com/Doralintake. Or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.
