HiB (Haemophilus Influenza Type B)

HiB or Haemophilus Influenza B, is a viral disease that mostly affects newborns. In adults it tends to be asymptomatic, but can move from mother to child. Transmission occurs usually during labor, through respiratory droplets, aspirations of amniotic fluid, and contact with stool. Outside of these circumstances spreading the disease to others is fairly limited. Humans are the only reservoir for this virus, so eradication is possible through vaccinations and herd immunity (2).

The currently available HiB vaccine is a conjugate that are approved for use in children of six weeks of age. There is also a booster shot available for children that are 12 months or older based on titre levels. The vaccine is considered to be 95% effective in creating protective antibodies in infants as it is highly immunogenic. The clinical efficacy is 95% - 100% effective and there are no cases of a fully vaccinated infant having an invasive HiB infection (2).

If vaccinations were to stop, most adults would be unaffected by the disease, as they are usually asymptomatic carriers. Infant mortality would increase due to mothers unknowingly having the disease while giving birth (2).

(1)

¹Hib vaccine - Stock Image - M715/0511. (n.d.). Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/283310/view 

²Pinkbook. (2019, April 15). Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hib.html