HIB Meningitis | Dr Atiq

Vaccine - Knowledge Academy

HIB Vaccine

Intended to prevent HIB meningitis in children under the age of 4. The incidence of HIB falls dramatically from that age since by then most children have acquired natural immunity.
First introduced into this country in 1990, as a separate injection containing thiomersal (mercury).
From September 2004 the vaccine has been given as part of the 5:1 vaccine ( Pediacel ® = DTaP/IPV/HIB, which includes high dose Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussin; plus injectable Polio and Hib).
Pediacel ® does not contain mercury (i.e. no thiomersal).
No booster for HIB was deemed necessary after September 2004; but from September 2006 a booster injection will be given with Meningitis C at 12 months of age
Hib is no longer available as a single injection.
As this is such a common bug, most mothers have natural immunity and therefore pass on their antibodies through breast-feeding. Breast-feeding reduces incidence rates: children under 6 months of age are protected in this way by maternal antibodies.

Vaccine ingredients

conjugated with diphtheria
toxin or tetanus toxoid
cultured in tissue taken from cattle

neomycin
streptomycin
polymyxin B

formaldehyde
aluminium

The "Vaccine Truth" website (http://www.vaccinetruth.org) suggests that peanut (Arachis hypogaea) oil may have been used as an adjuvant in the HIB vaccine. There is speculation that the rise in nut allergies among children in recent years may be connected with this.

Adjuvants are formulated compounds which when combined with vaccine antigens intensify the body's immune response. The most common adjuvants are aluminium hydroxide and aluminium phosphate. Aluminium is a neuro-toxin linked with Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. Adjuvants have the potential to disable the immune system so that it loses its ability to distinguish what is "self" from what is "non-self". The question is: has peanut oil or a similar protein been used in human vaccines as an adjuvant?

Vaccine side effects:

Previous HIB vaccines caused seizures, anaphylactic shock, joint pain, rashes, oedema
Currently, the most common HIB vaccine reaction is the increased incidence of HIB disease - not necessarily meningitis - following vaccination, generally in the first week
Guillain-Barré syndrome: weakness and pain in legs, with inability to walk, problems with swallowing, and facial weakness
Transverse myelitis: a paralyzing disease of the spinal cord
Thrombocytopenia: a decrease in blood platelets responsible for clotting
The Department of Health cite the following vaccine reactions: fever; hypotonic-hyporesponsive episodes (pallor, cyanosis, limpness); persistent crying or screaming; severe local reaction; pain, swelling and redness at the injection site.

The long-term effectiveness of the HIB vaccines has not been determined (but is estimated 64% to be effective). It will not be possible to determine the individual effects of the HIB vaccine now that it is part of the 5:1 vaccine Pediacel ® and alongside Meningitis C and Pneumococcal vaccine.