OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of mass vaccination in Cuba of @entity1 under 2 years of age against @entity327 type b (Hib), the most common causative pathogen of @entity4008 . METHODS: The availability of effective Hib conjugate vaccines led to a nationwide vaccination program in 1999 targeting all @entity1 under 2 years of age, with a 97% coverage rate achieved. To assess the program's impact, data from 1998 and 1999 from the National @entity4008 Reporting System were used. RESULTS: Vaccination efficacy was estimated at 99%. The overall incidence of @entity6932 declined 46.1%, from 1.3 to 0.6 cases per 100,000 population. The greatest overall reduction, of 56.1%, occurred among @entity1 under 5 years of age. Among @entity1 under 1 year of age, the reduction was 70.5%, and among the rest of the age groups of @entity1 under 5, incidence decreased between 25.9% and 49.6%. In the group targeted for vaccination, incidence decreased 61.1%. Among @entity1 in the target group who contracted @entity6932 , only 8 cases (24.2%) had been vaccinated, most with a single dose applied 1 month before becoming ill. CONCLUSIONS: Hib vaccination of all @entity1 under 2 years of age in Cuba greatly reduced the incidence of @entity6932 , as measured by the National @entity4008 Reporting System.

[Impact of vaccination against XXXX type b in Cuba].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children'] @entity327 :: ('727', 'Species') :: ['Haemophilus influenzae'] @entity4008 :: ('MESH:D016920', 'Disease') :: ['bacterial meningitis', 'Bacterial Meningitis'] @entity6932 :: ('MESH:D008583', 'Disease') :: ['Hib meningitis']
@entity327 :: (727,Species) :: ['Haemophilus influenzae']
