Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Hib meningitis is caused by the bacteria Haemophilus Influenzae type b. This type of meningitis is most common in babies and children under the age of four.
A vaccine to protect against Hib was introduced in 1992 to protect young children and is now offered to all children at 2, 3 and 4 months of age with a booster at 12 months. Before this, 1 in 600 children contracted Hib before the age of 5 years, and it was responsible for about 70 deaths and 150 cases of brain damage a year.
Because of the success of the vaccine, Hib meningitis is now rare. Since the introduction of the vaccine, cases of Hib meningitis have been reduced by over 90% in the UK.
MeningitisUK · Registered Charity No.1076774