What is haemophilus b and hepatitis B vaccine?
Haemophilus B is a type of influenza (flu) caused by bacteria.
Haemophilus B bacteria can infect the lungs or throat, and can also spread to the blood,
bones, joints, brain, or spinal cord. It can cause breathing problems or meningitis, and these
infections can be fatal.
Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by virus.
Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver that is spread through blood or bodily fluids, sexual
contact or sharing IV drug needles with an infected person, or during childbirth when a baby is
born to a mother who is infected. Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver, vomiting, and
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Hepatitis can lead to liver cancer, cirrhosis, or death.
The haemophilus B and hepatitis B vaccine is used to help prevent these diseases in
children.
This vaccine works by exposing your child to a small dose of the bacteria or virus, which
causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active
infection that has already developed in the body.
Haemophilus B and hepatitis B vaccine is for use in children between the ages of 6 weeks
and 15 months old.
Like any vaccine, the haemophilus B and hepatitis B vaccine may not provide protection
from disease in every person.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking haemophilus b and hepatitis B vaccine?
A hepatitis B vaccine will not protect you against infection with hepatitis A, C, and E, or
other viruses that affect the liver. It may also not protect you from hepatitis B if you are already
infected with the virus, even if you do not yet show symptoms.
Your child should not receive this vaccine if the child is allergic to baker's yeast, or if
he or she has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine containing haemophilus
B or hepatitis B.
Your child should also not receive this vaccine if the child has received cancer
chemotherapy or radiation treatment in the past 3 months.
Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor if your child has:
-
multiple sclerosis;
-
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia or
easy bruising;
-
a history of epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
-
an allergy to latex rubber;
-
a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow
transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
-
if the child is taking a blood thinner such as warfarin
(Coumadin).
Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a cold or fever.
In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets
better before receiving this vaccine.
How should I take haemophilus b and hepatitis B vaccine?
This vaccine is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle. Your child will receive this
injection in a doctor's office or other clinic setting.
The haemophilus B and hepatitis B vaccine is given in a series of shots. The first shot is
usually given when the child is 2 months old. Booster shots may also be given at 4 months and
12 to 15 month of age. Your child's individual booster schedule may be different from these
guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by the health
department of the state you live in.
Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin-free pain reliever
such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given
and for the next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how
much of this medicine to give your child.
It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring in a child who has a seizure
disorder such as epilepsy.
What happens if I miss a dose of haemophilus b and hepatitis B vaccine?
Contact your doctor if you will miss a booster dose or if you get behind schedule. The
next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.
Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine. If your child does not
receive the full series of vaccines, he or she may not be fully protected against the disease.
Where can I get more information about haemophilus b and hepatitis B vaccine?
Your pharmacist has information about haemophilus b and hepatitis B vaccine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of haemophilus b and hepatitis B vaccine?
Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life-threatening
allergic reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. When
the child receives a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any
side effects.
Becoming infected with haemophilus B or hepatitis A is much more dangerous to your
child's health than receiving the vaccine to protect against these diseases. Like any medicine,
this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
Get emergency medical help if your child has any of these
signs of an
allergic reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or
throat.
Call your doctor at once if the child has any of these serious side effects:
-
extreme drowsiness, fainting;
-
fussiness, irritability, crying for an hour or longer;
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seizure (black-out or convulsions); or
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high fever.
Less serious side effects include:
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redness, pain, tenderness, swelling, or a hard lump where the shot
was given;
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diarrhea, loss of appetite, mild vomiting;
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mild fussiness or crying;
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joint pain, body aches; or
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mild fever.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about haemophilus b and hepatitis B vaccine?
The haemophilus B and hepatitis B vaccine is given in a series of shots. The first shot is
usually given when the child is 2 months old. Booster shots may be given at 4 months and 12 to
15 month of age. Your child's individual booster schedule may be different from these
guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by the health
department of the state you live in.
Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine. If your child does not
receive the full series of vaccines, he or she may not be fully protected against the disease.
Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a cold or fever. In the case of a
more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before
receiving this vaccine.
Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life-threatening
allergic reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. When
the child receives a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any
side effects.
Becoming infected with haemophilus B or hepatitis A is much more dangerous to your
child's health than receiving the vaccine to protect against these diseases. Like any medicine,
this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
What should I avoid while taking haemophilus b and hepatitis B vaccine?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity
after your child receives this vaccine.
What other drugs will affect haemophilus b and hepatitis B vaccine?
Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor about all other vaccines your child has
recently received.
Also tell the doctor if your child has recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken
the immune system, including:
-
an oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine;
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medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or
other autoimmune disorders, such as azathioprine (Imuran), efalizumab (Raptiva), etanercept
(Enbrel), leflunomide (Arava), and others; or
-
medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection,
such as basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), muromonab-CD3
(Orthoclone), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).
If your child is using any of these medications, he or she may not be
able to receive the vaccine, or may need to wait until the other treatments are finished.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can affect this vaccine. Tell
your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications your child has received.
This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not
start using a new medication without telling your child's doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of haemophilus b and hepatitis B vaccine?
