Host and environmental factors associated with Hib in England, 1998-2002

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Declining effectiveness of the UK's Hib vaccine programme was observed between 1998 and 2002. OBJECTIVE: To provide insight into non-vaccine factors contributing to ongoing Hib disease in England after immunisation. DESIGN: Postal questionnaire study, matched case-control design. SETTING: Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, England. PATIENTS: Cases were children born after 1 January 1993 presenting with confirmed Hib infection in England between the start of 1998 and end of 2002, regardless of vaccination status. Controls were matched by date of birth and region. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Odds ratios were calculated to assess the impact of host and environmental variable..