GOVERNMENT TOLD TO
START HIB BOOSTERS FOR ALL INFANTS 27 January 2003
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have
advised the Department of Health to begin a one-off, catch-up
vaccination programme, immunising all children between 6 months and
four years old with an extra dose of the Haemophilus influenza type
B (Hib) vaccine. Latest figures from the PHLS have shown rates of
Hib infection to increase four-fold in the under-fives since 2001,
demonstrating a decline in immunity after receiving the vaccine. Dr
Ramsay, immunisation consultant at the PHLS, believes that this
campaign will act as a temporary holding measure and a routine
booster may be added to the childhood immunisation schedule in the
long term.
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND
MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.