Latest CDC Recommendations for Hib Vaccination

Recommendations

The following non-high risk children should be scheduled to receive the primary series of Hib vaccine as outlined below:

• If the child is at least 6 weeks but less than 12 months of age and has received zero, one, or two doses of Hib vaccine, schedule him/her for the first or next dose(s) immediately with a minimum of four weeks between the doses. These children will need one booster dose when the Hib vaccine shortage is over.
• If the child is between 12 and 14 months of age and has not had any doses of Hib vaccine, schedule appointments for two doses, eight weeks apart.
• If the child is between 12 and 14 months of age and has received Hib vaccine but did not complete the primary series before they turned 1 year old (i.e., had 1 dose of the Merck product OR 1-2 doses of the sanofi product), schedule an appointment for 1 additional dose, a minimum of eight weeks from the last dose.
• If the child is at least 15 months of age but less than 5 years of age and has not received any doses of Hib vaccine OR has not completed the primary series (i.e., had 1 dose of the Merck product OR 1-2 doses of the sanofi product), schedule an appointment for one dose.
• If the child is 5 years old or older and hasn’t received any Hib vaccine, Hib vaccine is not necessary.

Certain children are at increased risk for Hib disease, including children with asplenia, sickle cell disease, human immunodeficiency virus infection and certain other immunodeficiency syndromes, and malignant neoplasms. CDC recommends that providers continue to vaccinate these children with available Hib conjugate vaccines according to the routinely recommended schedules, including the 12 through 15 month booster dose. Providers who serve predominantly American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children living in AI/AN communities should continue to stock and use PRP-OMP– containing Hib vaccines (Merck product) and vaccinate according to the routinely recommended schedule, which includes the 2-dose primary series (ages 2 and 4 months) and a 12 through 15 month booster dose. This product is available from the VFC Pediatric Vaccine Stockpile, through their state immunization programs.

For more information about Hib disease and vaccination contact your state or local public health official or CDC at 1-800-232-4636/1-800-CDC-INFO or by email at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/contact/nipinfo_contact_form.htm. Information about current vaccine shortages and delays can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/shortages/default.htm