“Haemophilus never has been a source of concern to parents; they don’t know that we’ve gotten rid of it.” (Laughter from audience)
—Edgar K. Marcuse, M.D., M.P.H. 2006 Pediatric Bioethics Conference
The most common symptom of Hib infection is inflammation of the membranes covering the brain (meningitis).103 Serious Hib infections affect children under five years of age while 2/3 of those infections occur in children under 18 months of age.104 Not all Hib infections are symptomatic. The CDC even states, “In the prevaccine era, most children acquired ‘natural’ immunity by 5-6 years of age through asymptomatic infection by Hib bacteria” and “Natural exposure to Hib also induces antibodies” producing natural immunity.105 In fact, Hib bacteria can be isolated in up to 75 percent of all healthy asymptomatic children.106
The number of cases of Hib infections in the 1980’s was approximately 40 cases per 100,000 population.107 This means that a child had a 0.04 percent chance of contracting a Hib infection in the 1980’s.108 And out of that 0.04 percent, the death rate was two percent to five percent. So the real risk for dying from Hib infection in 1980 was 0.0008 percent, meaning that a child had a 99.992 percent survival rate! Not to mention these numbers are based on are the CDC’s figures.
The first Hib vaccine was licensed in 1985 but was worthless among children under 18 months of age.109 The vaccine’s failure rate was as high as 69 percent.110 The vaccine was pulled from the market in 1988.111 Another vaccine was licensed in the U.S. in 1987, it too was worthless and pulled from the market.112 Currently there are three Hib vaccines available on the market, but are there any potential side effects?
