BMJ  2003;326:1158-1159 (31 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7400.1158

Editorial

Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine—booster campaign

Hib exemplifies need for continued surveillance after changes in vaccines

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The chief medical officer has recently recommended that all children in the United Kingdom aged 6 months to 4 years should receive a single dose of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine. This is in response to a rise in the incidence of Hib disease over the past four years. The reasons for the increase are complex, but evidence points strongly to an effect of a temporary change to the use of a Hib vaccine combined with diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP).

Before the Hib conjugate vaccine was introduced in 1992, Hib was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in children. Rapid control of Hib disease was achieved by combining routine infant immunisation at 2, 3, and 4 months of age with a catch-up programme for children aged up to 4 years. Initially Hib vaccine was given as a separate injection, but in 1996 a combined DTP-Hib vaccine was . . . [Full text of this article]

Vaccine Institute and Department of Child Health, St George's Hospital Medical School, London SW170RE (pheath@sghms.ac.uk)

Immunisation Division, Health Protection Agency Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London NW9 5EQ

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Kelly, D. F., Pollard, A. J., Moxon, E. R. (2005). Immunological Memory: The Role of B Cells in Long-term Protection Against Invasive Bacterial Pathogens. JAMA 294: 3019-3023 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Daniels, J G (2003). Booster campaign is no incentive for parents. BMJ 326: 1460-1460 [Full text]  

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