The Virus and It’s Effect

“Haemophilus influenzae (including Hib) is a bacterium that can cause a severe infection, occurring mostly in infants and children younger than five years of age. In spite of its name, Haemophilus influenzae does not cause influenza (the “flu”). There are six identifiable types of Haemophilus influenzae bacteria (a through f) and other non-identifiable types (called nontypeable). The one that most people are familiar with is Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib.” – CDC, 2014

According to the CDC, “the most common types of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease are:

• Bacteremia (blood infection)
• Meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord)
• Epiglotittis (an inflammation of the windpipe; can cause breathing trouble)
• Cellulitis (skin infection)
• Infectious arthritis”

There are 5 types of Hib Vaccine

The five vaccines are: ActHIB; Hiberix; PedvaxHIB; Comvax, Pentacel and Menhibrix.

Adverse Reactions from the Hib Vaccine

“VAERS received 29,747 reports after Hib vaccines; 5179 (17%) were serious, including 896 reports of deaths. Median age was 6 months (range 0-1022 months). Sudden infant death syndrome was the stated cause of death in 384 (51%) of 749 death reports with autopsy/death certificate records.” – The Journal of Pediatrics, 2015