Who Should Not Get Hib Vaccine?

According to the CDC anyone who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of Hib vaccine should not get another dose. Children under 6 weeks old should not get this vaccine either. Also, people who are moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should wait until they recover before getting this vaccine. 

While the CDC recommends Hib vaccines for high risk populations older than the age of five which include persons without a functioning spleen, as well as hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients,   there are no Hib vaccines that are FDA approved for use in anyone five years of age and older.

According to the manufacturer’s product inserts:

• ActHIB should not be given to children with a history or hypersensitivity to a previous dose of H. influenzae type b or tetanus toxoid vaccine or any component of the vaccine. ActHIB is approved for use in infants and children two months through five years of age. Infants younger than two months of age, and children older than five should not receive ActHIB. If Guillain-Barre syndrome has occurred within six weeks of receipt of a prior vaccine containing tetanus toxoid, the decision to give ActHIB should be based on careful consideration of the possible risks and benefits of vaccination. No human or animal studies have assessed the safety of administering ActHIB during pregnancy. 

• HIBERIX should not be given to anyone who has suffered a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis after a previous dose of any Hib or tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccine or any component of HIBERIX. HIBERIX is approved for use in infants and children six weeks through four years of age, prior to their fifth birthday. Infants younger than six weeks of age, and children five years of age and older should not receive HIBERIX. If Guillain-Barre syndrome has occurred within six weeks of receipt of a prior vaccine containing tetanus toxoid, the decision to give HIBERIX should be based on careful consideration of the possible risks and benefits of vaccination. Apnea in infants born prematurely has been associated with the administration of intramuscular injections, including HIBERIX. Administration of this vaccine should only be considered after careful assessment of the infant’s health status, along with the potential risks and benefits of vaccination. The safety and effectiveness of the HIBERIX vaccine for use in children who are immunosuppressed has not been evaluated. HIBERIX is not approved for use in pregnant or lactating women. 

• PedvaxHib should not be given to anyone with a hypersensitivity to any component of the vaccine or the diluent. Persons who develop symptoms suggestive of hypersensitivity after an injection should not receive further injections of the vaccine. Use caution with children allergic to latex as the vial stopper contains dry natural latex rubber. The decision to administer or delay vaccination because of current or recent febrile illness depends on the severity of symptoms and etiology of the disease. Persons with moderate or severe febrile illness should be vaccinated after they have recovered. Persons over age six years or infants under six weeks of age should not get PedvaxHib. PedvaxHib is a Pregnancy Category C product and it is not known whether this vaccine can cause fetal harm. As a result, PedvaxHib is not recommended for use in pregnant women. This vaccine is NOT recommended for use in adult populations. 

• Pentacel should not be given to anyone who has suffered a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) after a previous dose of this vaccine, any ingredient of Pentacel vaccine, or any other diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid, pertussis-containing vaccine, inactivated poliovirus vaccine or Hib vaccine. Pentacel should not be given to anyone who has suffered encephalopathy within seven days of a previous pertussis-containing vaccine with no other identifiable cause. Persons with a progressive neurologic disorder should not receive Pentacel until a treatment regimen has been established and the condition has stabilized. Careful consideration should be given to the benefits and risks of Pentacel before administering the vaccine to someone with a history of fever at or above 105 degrees F, a hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode, or persistent, inconsolable crying lasting more than three hours within 48 hours after a pertussis-containing vaccine, or who has suffered seizures within three days after a previous pertussis-containing vaccine. If Guillain-Barre syndrome occurred within six weeks of receipt of a prior vaccine containing tetanus toxoid, the risk for Guillain-Barre syndrome may be increased following Pentacel. Apnea in infants born prematurely has been associated with the administration of intramuscular injections, including Pentacel. Administration of this vaccine should only be considered after careful assessment of the infant’s health status, along with the potential risks and benefits of vaccination. Pentacel is a Pregnancy Category C product and it is not known whether this vaccine can cause fetal harm. As a result, Pentacel is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Pentacel is approved for use in infants and children six weeks through four years of age, prior to their fifth birthday. Infants younger than six weeks of age, and children five years of age and older should not receive Pentacel. 

• VAXELIS should not be administered to anyone with a history of a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of VAXELIS, any ingredient found in VAXELIS, or any other tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, pertussis-containing vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, inactivated poliovirus vaccine, or H. influenzae type b vaccine. VAXELIS should not be given to anyone who has suffered encephalopathy within seven days of a previous pertussis-containing vaccine with no other identifiable cause. Anyone with a history of progressive neurologic disorder, including infantile spasms, uncontrolled epilepsy, or progressive encephalopathy should not receive VAXELIS until a treatment regimen has been established and the condition has stabilized. Careful consideration should be given to the benefits and risks of VAXELIS before administering the vaccine to someone with a history of fever at or above 105 degrees F, a hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode, or persistent, inconsolable crying lasting more than three hours within 48 hours after a pertussis-containing vaccine, or who has suffered seizures within three days after a previous pertussis-containing vaccine. A causal relation between tetanus toxoid and both brachial neuritis and Guillain-Barré syndrome has been determined by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). If Guillain-Barré syndrome occurred within six weeks of receipt of a prior vaccine containing tetanus toxoid, the risk for Guillain-Barré syndrome may be increased following VAXELIS. Apnea in infants born prematurely has been associated with the administration of intramuscular injections, including VAXELIS. Administration of this vaccine should only be considered after careful assessment of the infant’s health status, along with the potential risks and benefits of vaccination. VAXELIS is approved for use in infants and children six weeks through four years of age, prior to their fifth birthday. Infants younger than six weeks of age, and children five years of age and older should not receive VAXELIS. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: NVIC encourages you to become fully informed about Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) and the Hib vaccine by reading all sections in the Table of Contents, which contain many links and resources such as the manufacturer product information inserts, and to speak with one or more trusted health care professionals before making a vaccination decision for yourself or your child. This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

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