title: Impact of a regional Hib vaccination programme in Italy.
abstract: In the Veneto region of Italy, a coverage of 26% for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) primary vaccination in 1-year-old children plus a 31-53% catch-up coverage in children 1-4 years of age resulted in a 91% reduction of Hib invasive disease in children <5 years of age. These data suggest that vaccination of older children can contribute substantially to herd immunity, even in settings where primary vaccination is low. Since a single Hib vaccine dose is efficacious in preventing Hib invasive disease in children over 1 year of age, and the costs of vaccination are reduced, catch-up should always be considered when introducing Hib vaccine in routine immunization programmes.
authors.affiliation: Regional Health Authority, Veneto Region, Venice, Italy
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Marta Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ciofi degli Atti
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cerquetti
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piovesan
authors.forename: Alberto Eugenio
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Tozzi
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salmaso
mesh_terms: D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; C044237:Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial