April 2007
Haemophilus Influenzae type b Vaccine (Hib)
When should my child not get Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine? Your child should not get Hib vaccine if he has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to:
When should my child wait to get Hib vaccine? If your child is moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled, he should usually wait until he is well before
getting Hib vaccine. Check with your child's doctor to see whether he should wait.
Tell your child's doctor if the child has any of the following conditions. The doctor may recommend that your child wait or not receive Hib vaccine. Ask your doctor for more information if your child:
What are the side effects from Hib vaccine and what should I do if they occur? A vaccine, like any medication, may cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of Hib vaccine causing
serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Most people who get Hib vaccine do not have any problems with it. Hib vaccine
can cause other side effects. Call your child's doctor if he has any unusual problems after receiving this vaccine.
- A previous dose of Hib vaccine
- Latex (dry, natural rubber)
Tell your child's doctor if the child has any of the following conditions. The doctor may recommend that your child wait or not receive Hib vaccine. Ask your doctor for more information if your child:
- Has HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system
- Is being treated with medications that affect the immune system, such as steroids, for two weeks or longer
- Has any type of cancer
- Is receiving cancer treatment with X-rays or medications
- Has or has ever had a low platelet count (a blood disorder which may cause unusual bruising or bleeding)
- Is receiving an anticoagulant (blood thinner) medication such as warfarin (Coumadin)
- Has recently received an immune globulin
- Has had a reaction to any vaccine
| Side Effects (Mild) | What should I do? |
|---|---|
| Fever | Give acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) as directed by your child’s doctor |
| Redness, warmth, pain, firmness, skin discoloration, or swelling where the shot was given | Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the sore area. Give acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) for pain, as directed by your child’s doctor. Call the doctor if these symptoms do not improve |
| Irritability | Call your child’s doctor if this symptom gets worse or does not go away |
| Sleepiness | Call your child’s doctor if this symptom gets worse or does not go away |
| Decreased appetite or diarrhea | Call your child’s doctor if this symptom gets worse or does not go away |
| Side Effects (Moderate or Severe) | What should I do? |
| Unusual changes in behavior | Call your child’s doctor |
| Serious allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; hoarseness or wheezing; hives; rash; itching; swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, or feet; paleness; weakness; fast heartbeat; or dizziness within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot) | Get emergency medical care for your child right away |
| High fever | Call your child’s doctor right away |
