haemophilus b conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine

What is the most important information I should know about this vaccine?

What is haemophilus b conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine?

Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) is a bacteria that can cause serious illness, including breathing problems or meningitis. Hib infection usually affects children and can be fatal.

Haemophilus B conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine is used to prevent this disease in children, and is sometimes combined with vaccines to protect against other diseases. This vaccine is given to children between the ages of 2 months and 18 months old.

The vaccine works by exposing your child to a small amount of the bacteria or a protein from the bacteria, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body, and will not protect against other types of influenza.

Like any vaccine, haemophilus B conjugate vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking this vaccine?

If your child has any of these other conditions, this vaccine may need to be postponed or not given at all:

• severe immune suppression caused by disease (such as cancer, HIV, or AIDS), or by receiving certain medicines such as steroids, chemotherapy or radiation;
• a history of seizures;
• an allergy to latex rubber; or
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia or easy bruising.

Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before receiving this vaccine.

This vaccine should not be given to anyone age 6 or older, and it is not known whether the vaccine is harmful during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.

How should I take this vaccine?

This vaccine is injected into a muscle. Your child will receive this injection in a doctor's office or clinic setting.

This vaccine is given in a series of shots. The first shot is usually given when the child is 2 months old. The booster shots are then given at 4 months and 6 months of age, and again at 15 to 18 months of age. In some cases, a 5th booster dose is given at 4 to 6 years of age.

Your child's individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines, especially if the child does not start this series of shots before 7 months of age. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.

Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how much of this medicine to give your child.

It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring in a child who has a seizure disorder such as epilepsy.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine. If your child does not receive the full series of vaccines, he or she may not be fully protected against the disease.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of this vaccine is not likely to occur.

What should I avoid while taking this vaccine?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What are the possible side effects of this vaccine?

Becoming infected with haemophilus B is much more dangerous to your child's health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

• fussiness, irritability, crying for an hour or longer; or
• high fever (within a few hours or a few days after the vaccine).

Common side effects may include:

• vomiting, loss of appetite;
• diarrhea; or
• pain, swelling, or redness where the shot was given.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

What other drugs will affect this vaccine?

Before your child receives this vaccine, tell the doctor about all other vaccines your child has recently received.

Other drugs may interact with haemophilus b conjugate vaccine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell the doctor about all medications and treatments your child has recently received. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about this vaccine. Additional information is available from your local health department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.