title: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine: an effective control strategy in India.
abstract: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is an encapsulated, non-motile and non-spore-forming Gram-negative coccobacillus which causes severe pneumonia, meningitis and other life threatening illnesses. Hib disease affects almost exclusively (95%) children aged less than 5 years throughout the world. The mean age of onset is 6-24 months after which it declines gradually until age 5 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that Hib is responsible for 3 million cases of serious illnesses and approximately 386,000 deaths worldwide each year in children aged under 5 years. In the latest position paper on Hib vaccine, WHO recommended the inclusion of Hib conjugate vaccines in all routine infant immunization programs without waiting for local disease-burden data. The WHO and the Global Alliance for Vaccine Immunization (GAVI) have been working to expand supplies of Hib vaccine, reduce vaccine cost, and assist especially low-income countries with vaccine introduction. Hib vaccine is safe, highly effective and readily available in the market. Hib vaccine has been shown to be > 95% efficacious in diverse populations around the world. Globally, hundreds of millions of doses of Hib vaccine have been administered in the last 2 decades. More than 160 countries are using Hib vaccine in national immunization programmes and around 25 countries planning to introduce. Hib vaccination fits into the India's national immunization schedule.
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, India. dr.rameshverma@yahoo.co.in
authors: Ramesh
authors: R
authors: Verma
authors: Pardeep
authors: P
authors: Khanna
authors: Suraj
authors: S
authors: Chawla
authors: Mohan
authors: M
authors: Bairwa
authors: Shankar
authors: S
authors: Prinja
authors: Meena
authors: M
authors: Rajput
mesh_terms: D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D019741:Haemophilus influenzae type b / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; C044237:Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine