Your child will need to get the Hib vaccine starting at 2 months old. Learn more about what this shot protects against and why it's so important.
What is Hib disease?
The Hib vaccine protects your baby from Hib disease, or Haemophilus influenzae type b. This bacteria can cause a variety of infections, including ear infections, bloodstream infections, and even pneumonia. Hib disease used to be a leading cause of bacterial meningitis, an infection of the tissue covering the spinal cord and brain, in children under 5.[1]
The disease is spread through the air by coughing or sneezing. It can cause many different types of infections that range from mild ear infections to severe diseases. Those serious illnesses can result in brain damage, hearing loss, and even death.
Before an effective Hib vaccine was available in the mid- to late-1980s, about 20,000 children younger than 5 years old got invasive Hib disease, like meningitis and bloodstream infections, and about 1,000 children died every year in the U.S.[2]
More than half the kids who developed invasive Hib disease were younger than 1 year old. Due to the widespread use of the Hib vaccine, fewer than 20 cases of the disease were reported in mostly unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated children under 5 in the U.S. by 2019.[3]
"Before the vaccine, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was a leading cause of bacterial meningitis, pneumonia, and sepsis in young children, often leaving survivors with lifelong complications like hearing loss and developmental delays," says Florencia Segura, M.D., a pediatrician at Einstein Pediatrics in Vienna, Virginia, a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and a member of the What to Expect Medical Review Board. "I still remember hearing from pediatricians who saw babies die from these infections before the vaccine existed, but today, thanks to widespread immunization, most doctors in the U.S. will go their entire careers without seeing a single case."
Read This Next
What is the Hib vaccine?
There are four Hib vaccines licensed for use in the U.S. Three of the vaccines protect against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease only, while one vaccine is a combination vaccine, which means it includes protection against other diseases as well.[4]
The Hib vaccine may not prevent all cases of the disease, but it can help lower your child’s risk of getting sick.
"The Hib vaccine is a great success story in modern medicine," adds Dr. Seugra. "Getting your child vaccinated against Hib isn’t just about preventing an infection — it’s about making sure they never have to experience the devastating consequences of a disease that once hospitalized thousands of children every year."
Hib disease is caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria, which can lead to a number of infections, including ear infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia. Before we had an effective vaccine, Hib disease was a leading cause of bacterial meningitis, a serious infection that can be very dangerous for children.
Before the Hib vaccine, this disease caused around 1,000 children to die every year in the United States. And many more developed invasive Hib disease.
The Hib vaccine is safe and effective, and can help reduce your child’s risk of developing Hib disease. There are four different Hib vaccines; one is a combination vaccine, so it includes protection against other diseases as well.
The number of shots your child needs will vary depending on which type of Hib vaccine your pediatrician offers. But four doses are usually recommended: at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months, and again between 12 and 15 months of age.
How many Hib shots will my child need?
Four doses are usually recommended, given at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months, and again between 12 and 15 months of age.[5] One brand of the vaccine calls for only three doses, at 2 and 4 months and between 12 and 15 months of age. But if your child is between ages 1 and 15 months and hasn’t yet been vaccinated against Hib, he may need additional doses.
Yes 
No 
Trending On What to Expect
