title: Changing socioeconomic risk factors for invasive H. influenzae disease after the introduction of conjugate vaccine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine socioeconomic risk factors for invasive Haemophilus influenzae (HI) disease before and after the introduction of HI type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine in the West Midlands, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study population consisted of children aged <5 years with laboratory confirmed invasive disease. Linear associations between disease rates and socioeconomic variables were examined 2-years before and 2-years after the introduction of conjugate vaccine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre-vaccine there were no trends in disease incidence. Post-vaccine there was an absolute reduction in disease incidence and significant disease differentials between affluent and deprived populations were identified for non-owner-occupancy (P=0.032) and car access (P=0.049).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that changes in socioeconomic risk factor for invasive HI occurred after the introduction of conjugate vaccine. This may have implications for future immunisation strategies.
authors.affiliation: Section of Child Health, School of Postgraduate Medicine, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK. bolowokure@phls.org.uk
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olowokure
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Hawker
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D006113:United Kingdom; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate