Hib Vaccine

An effective vaccine against Hib disease was introduced into the immunization programme in 1992. The Hib vaccine (Brand name Act-HibĀ®) is now routinely given to babies at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, with a booster at 18 months of age. In Canada, the Hib vaccine is combined with the diphtheria, tetanus, purified pertussis and polio vaccines so that babies get a single injection at each immunization visit.

Hib vaccine is extremely safe. The addition of the Hib vaccine to the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-polio vaccine (PentacelĀ®) does not increase the rate or the severity of reactions.

The routine use of Hib vaccine in Canadian infants since 1992 has resulted in a 98% decrease in the rate of Hib disease.