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Haemophilus influenzae type b
Find most of the information you need in these resources
Always refer to your local signed PGD's in practice, and remember the Green Book takes priority over the SPmC - and sometimes WHO takes priority over the Green Book! They don't always say the same!
Other useful links and further reading:
Guidance: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): revised recommendations for the prevention of secondary cases
Haemophilus influenzae: guidance, data and analysis
Research and analysis: Haemophilus influenzae: laboratory reports by age group and serotype. Laboratory reports on cases of Haemophilus influenzae in England.
Research and analysis: Haemophilus influenzae: epidemiological data. Graph and reports of laboratory-confirmed cases of Haemophilus influenzae in England from 1990 to 2013.
Recent Updates & News
5th June 2025: Green Book chapter update. PGD template updates also arrived; Hib/MenC, and Hexavalent vaccine DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB.
2nd June 2025: This guidance got an update: "Hexavalent DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB combination vaccine: information for healthcare practitioners". As did this page (Hexavalent combination vaccine: programme guidance) in general.
29th May 2025: More resources - an updated slideset for the hexavalent programme. Will help with understanding the upcoming changes in the programme from July 2025.
30th April: A BIG update came along today - the 'changes to the routine childhood schedule letter'. Big read with lots of changes to absorb. I won't repeat it all here but do have a good read.... some of this relates to the Hib scheduling changes below on the childhood prog. (see UKHSA webinar link on news page in June and consider registering for more info). Expect Green Book updates, PGD changes and perhaps a small amount of chaos while we adapt to the changes. Keep calm and keep the kettle on....
28th Feb 2025: GP contract 25/26: Cessation of Hib/MenC 12-month dose effective from 1 July 2025 : Children who turn 12 months on or before 30 June 2025 will remain eligible for Menitorix® until stock levels are depleted, then the infant should be offered a Hexavalent vaccine (to replace the 12-month Hib dose). Children who turn 12 months on or after 1 July 2025 will not be offered a 12-month Hib/MenC vaccine but instead will receive a routine Hexavalent dose at a new 18-month appointment. This change will start from 01 January 2026 when the new 18-month visit will begin in the childhood vaccination schedule.
September 2024: Updated guidance published on management of Hib cases. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): revised recommendations for the prevention of secondary cases.
August 2024: Lab reports updated. During 2023 (January to December inclusive), there were 706 confirmed cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae (Hi). This was a 17.1% increase compared to 2022 (706 in 2023 compared with 603 in 2022). There were no deaths attributed to invasive Hib disease in 2022 or 2023. The most recent deaths attributed to invasive Hib disease in an adult was in 2015 and in 2011 in a child. Cases of invasive Hib disease have declined since the introduction of the Hib conjugate vaccine in 1992 and have remained at low levels since the introduction of the 12-month booster in 2006. In 2023, invasive Hib disease continued to be well-controlled across all age groups.
JUNE 2024 Hib/menC PGD template updated
JUNE 2022 Talk started of Menintorix being discontinued. This may necessitate a different visit schedule for Hib. Check out the JCVI minutes and keep an eye on program change announcements...
Bits and bobs to casually drop into conversation
According to the Vaccine Knowledge Project, did you know....
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a bacterium which can cause a range of very serious diseases, particularly in children under the age of 5.
There are very few cases of Hib disease in older children and adults.
60% of cases of Hib disease result in meningitis, often with septicaemia
Even with medical treatment, about 1 in 20 children who develop Hib meningitis die.
Before a vaccine was introduced, it is estimated that there were up to 1500 cases of Hib disease every year in the UK, leading to about 900 cases of meningitis and 60 deaths each year. 1 in 5 of the babies and children who survived Hib meningitis were left with severe long-term sequale such as learning disabilities, seizures, or deafness.
Hib disease was the main cause of meningitis in young children in the UK prior to the vaccine arriving.
Hib causes millions of cases of serious disease every year (according the the WHO). Worldwide it is a major cause of death in children under 5. About 200,000 young children died from Hib disease in 2008.
