Vaccination

There’s a vaccine that can prevent disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), but not the other types (“strains”) of H. influenzae bacteria.

Vaccine for Hib Only

The first Hib vaccine was licensed in 1985. Scientists later reformulated the vaccine so that it would be effective in young children, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed this improved version in 1987 (for children) and 1990 (for babies). The current Hib vaccine protects children as young as six weeks old. This vaccine is also used to protect older children, teens, and adults who are at increased risk for Hib disease due to certain medical conditions.

Before Hib vaccine was introduced in the United States for children younger than 5 years old, Hib disease:

• Was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis
• Caused about 20,000 cases of invasive disease each year
• Caused about 1,000 deaths each year

Due to the use of Hib vaccine, by 2013 fewer than 40 cases of Hib disease occurred annually in children younger than 5 years old.

Find out more about Hib vaccine.

Vaccination Coverage

The National Immunization Survey (NIS) is a large, on-going survey of immunization coverage among U.S. pre-school children (19 through 35 months old). In conjunction with the childhood NIS, CDC also conducts the teen NIS (13 through 17 years of age) and the adult National Health Interview Survey.

• Immunization Coverage in the United States
• School and Childcare Vaccination Surveys

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