Hib Jab Recall ???

[mands1]

Anyone heard about the health service recalling all 0-6 years for hib jab. Saw a add in national paper and was wondering why?? Is it anything to do with this new flu bug thing????

Nope- nothing to do with that- it's because the jab doesn't work as well as its meant to (surprise surprise).

A somewhat cynical Jimjams.

I can give you more details if you want, but won;t bore you unecessarily.......

JImjams I would like to know more as Dd has just had her jabs over the last four months or so.

This is a good link

www.vaccine-info.com/hib/index.htm

sorry I've forgotten how to do links but cut and paste that. The bit by the UK doctor is good (I think some of the American one refers to unconjugated him which isn't used now). It also includes the manufacturers info sheet.

When hib was introduced the number of hib-meningitis cases decreased (although there was a increase in other types). The vaccine was hailed as a great success. Unfortunately in common with many infectious diseases hib tends ot be cyclical- so if the vaccine was introduced and happened to coincide with a natural decrease in numbers it could look more successful than it was. The numbers of hib cases are now increasing again- probably becuase it's natural cycle is on an up. The other possibility is that immunity doesn't last very long. Either way it doesn't work as well as originally thought so they want to revaccinate.

In terms of the jabs your dd has already had - it doesn't mean very much. The nastiest possible side effect of hib is hib meningitis itself! I say possible becuase I'm not sure that is accepted by the manufacturers as a possible side effect :-) So don't worry about that. The link above is a good place to get started for information. If your dd is recalled then you can decide whether or not to give it again- the risks would be exactly the same (as would the risk of it not working I guess).