The UK hib vaccine experience

Abstract

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is an important pathogen in children <5 years of age. The Hib conjugate vaccines were the first polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines to be used in routine childhood schedules. Their introduction in the UK in 1992 has resulted in the near elimination of Hib disease. The UK Hib vaccine programme has a number of unique features including an accelerated schedule, absence of a booster dose, and the inclusion of a catch up component at the beginning of the programme. Collaboration between UK paediatricians, microbiologists, and public health physicians has allowed active national surveillance of Haemophilus influenzae disease and enabled important conclusio..