VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT

Hib Vaccine

What You Need to Know

(Haemophilus 

Influenzae Type b)

Many Vaccine Information Statements are 

available in Spanish and other languages. 

See www.immunize.org/vis

Hojas de información sobre vacunas están 

disponibles en español y en muchos otros 

idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org/vis

1 Why get vaccinated?

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease is a serious 

disease caused by 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 

lining of the brain and spinal cord. It can lead to 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 life-threatening Hib disease 

each year, and about 3% – 6% of them died.

Hib vaccine can prevent Hib disease. Since use of 

Hib vaccine began, the number of cases of invasive 

Hib disease has decreased by more than 99%. Many 

more children would get Hib disease if we stopped 

vaccinating.

2 Hib vaccine

Several different brands of Hib vaccine are available. 

Your child will receive either 3 or 4 doses, depending on 

which vaccine is used. 

Doses of Hib vaccine are usually recommended at these 

ages:

- First Dose: 2 months of age

- Second Dose: 4 months of age

- Third Dose: 6 months of age (if needed, 

depending on brand of vaccine)

- Final Dose: 12–15 months of age

Hib vaccine may safely be given at the same time as 

other vaccines. 

Hib vaccine may be given as part of a combination 

vaccine. Combination vaccines are made when two 

or more types of vaccine are combined together into a 

single shot, so that one vaccination can protect against 

more than one disease. Ask your doctor for more 

information.

People over 5 years old usually do not need Hib vaccine. 

But it may be given to older children or adults before 

surgery to remove the spleen or following a bone 

marrow transplant. It may also be given to anyone with 

certain health conditions such as sickle cell disease or 

HIV/AIDS. Ask your doctor for details.

3 Some people should not get 

this vaccine

Hib vaccine should not be given to infants younger than 

6 weeks of age.

Tell your doctor:

•	 If the patient has any severe (life-threatening) 

allergies. If the patient has ever had a life-threatening 

allergic reaction after a dose of Hib vaccine, or has 

a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, he or she 

should not get a dose. 

•	 If the patient is not feeling well. Your doctor might 

suggest waiting until the patient feels better. But you 

should come back.
4 Risks of a vaccine reaction

With a vaccine, like any medicine, there is a chance of 

side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their 

own. 

Serious side effects are also possible, but are very rare.

Most people who get Hib vaccine do not have any 

problems with it.

Mild Problems following Hib vaccine:

•	 redness, warmth, or swelling where the shot was given

•	 fever

These problems are uncommon. If they occur, they 

usually begin soon after the shot and last 2 or 3 days.

Problems that could happen after any vaccine:

•	 Brief fainting spells can happen after any medical 

procedure, including vaccination. Sitting or lying 

down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting, 

and injuries caused by a fall. Tell your doctor if the 

patient appears to feel dizzy, or have vision changes or 

ringing in the ears.

•	 Severe shoulder pain and reduced range of motion 

in the arm where a shot was given can happen, very 

rarely, after a vaccination.

•	 Severe allergic reactions from a vaccine are very rare, 

estimated at less than 1 in a million doses. If one were 

to occur, it would usually be within a few minutes to a 

few hours after the vaccination.

The safety of vaccines is always being monitored. For 

more information, visit: www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/

5 What if there is a serious 

reaction?

What should I look for?

•	 Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs of 

a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or behavior 

changes.

Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, 

swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a

fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These would 

usually start a few minutes to a few hours after the 

vaccination.

What should I do?

•	 If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other 

emergency that can’t wait, call 9-1-1 or get the person 

to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.

•	 Afterward, the reaction should be reported to the 

Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). 

Your doctor might file this report, or you can

do it yourself through the VAERS web site at 

www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.

VAERS is only for reporting reactions. They do not give 

medical advice.

6 The National Vaccine Injury 

Compensation Program

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program 

(VICP) is a federal program that was created to 

compensate people who may have been injured by 

certain vaccines.

Persons who believe they may have been injured by a 

vaccine can learn about the program and about filing a

claim by calling 1-800-338-2382 or visiting the VICP 

website at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation.

7 How can I learn more?

•	 Ask your doctor.

•	 Call your local or state health department.

•	 Contact the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC):

- Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO)

- Visit CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines

Office Use Only

 Vaccine Information Statement (Interim)

 Hib Vaccine

 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-26

2/04/2014