It is vital that newborn is observed by pediatrician and receive the proper treatment during the first months of life because the body’s physiological systems are susceptible to any deteriorative factors. One of the most common practices is vaccination for various diseases, such as influenza, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, and pneumococcal, to name a few. The current paper discusses the vaccination strategy for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Before the vaccine had been produced, Hib was the most common cause of meningitis in children in developed countries (Butler & Myers, 2018; Scott Ricci & Kyle, 2009). Vaccination for Hib is well-established, and it is worth taking the vaccine in order to prevent the threatening processes in the body.
Hib has been of huge concern for pediatricians because it may lead to significant pathophysiological consequences. Hib affects the upper respiratory tract and may cause meningitis, pneumonia, and bacteremia (Butler & Myers, 2018). The transmission usually happens through respiratory droplets and/or direct contact. The pathogen of Hib is a gram-negative Haemophilus influenzae, which inhibits nasopharynx (Butler & Myers, 2018). Polyribosyl ribitol phosphate (PRP) provides Hib with an effective mechanism for the immunity attack, and that is why Hib had been especially dangerous before the vaccine was invented (Butler & Myers, 2018). Except for the major manifestation of the disease, the patients often show a “fever or hypothermia (especially in neonates), emesis, altered mental status, and/or irritability” (Butler & Myers, 2018, p.121). Moreover, neurologic complications may result in such sequelae as seizures, language and developmental delay, and behavioral abnormalities (Butler & Myers, 2018). Therefore, Hib has numerous dangerous complications and may cause serious consequences.
For some individuals, Hib presents a greater threat then for others. First, children under the age of two are more likely to develop bacterial meningitis, not to mention all the other conditions (Butler & Myers, 2018). However, underimmunized and unimmunized children of any age should also be under constant observation for the Hib symptoms. Second, people with splenic dysfunctions or those who went through splenectomy are also at high risk (Butler & Myers, 2018). Third, older people (beyond 59 years) are also considered as a risk group (Butler & Myers, 2018). Moreover, there are some data on the higher likeliness of being infected for Native Americans, Alaskans, and indigenous Canadians (Butler & Myers, 2018). Thus, the risk depends on age, vaccination history, splenic functionality, and, probably, genetic factors.
The vaccination schedule has been firmly established and successfully implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It was accepted as a compulsory measure against Hib in many countries (Butler & Myers, 2018; Scott Ricci & Kyle, 2009). Depending on the medication, the vaccination may take from two to four steps. Such preparations as Hi-bTITER (HbOC) and ActHib (PRP-T) require three doses, while only two times is sufficient for RedvaxHIB and Comvax (PRP-OMP) (Scott Ricci & Kyle, 2009). Typically, the first dose is given at the age of two months and repeats after four-eight weeks (Butler & Myers, 2018). After two/three doses, one additional booster dose may be applied, and after that, the vaccination is considered to be completed (Scott Ricci & Kyle, 2009). If the vaccination cannot be started at two months, it can be initiated later with the same intervals, although the number of doses decreases with age. The vaccination has rational only before five years of age, and after that is used only in a rare case for groups at risk.
Hib vaccination does not have specific contradictions or precautions. According to Scott Ricci and Kyle (2009), the reasons for refusing may be an anaphylactic reaction to a prior dose or any components of the vaccine. Moreover, moderate to severe acute illness is a reasonable factor for postponing the vaccination, while minor illness should not cause deteriorative reactions to the vaccine (Scott Ricci & Kyle, 2009). Thus, the Hib vaccination should follow the general guidelines for this kind of measure.
The topic of immunization is significant for children’s upbringers because they are responsible for their child’s health. That is why parents or other representatives should be aware that many diseases are especially dangerous at an early age and that vaccination is the most effective way to protect the young organism. It is a known fact that the anti-vaccination movement caused many families to refuse vaccination (Scherer et al., 2016). Although some families have reasons for the hesitancy, many people were misinformed with unreliable information. That is why the medical community has to find ways to provide parents with the latest findings in the immunization measures.
Furthermore, doctors and parents should be aware of the possible side effects of vaccination. The Hib vaccine may cause some mild swelling or pain in the area of injection, and the patients may also develop a fever or irritability (Klein et al., 2017). However, these symptoms normally disappear within two days. There are rare cases of neurological reactions such as seizures and affective states, or a dangerously high fever (Klein et al., 2017). If the symptoms get aversive, the parents should immediately see the child’s pediatrician and inform the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). VAERS is an organization that supervise vaccines’ work without causing threat to people’s life (Scherer et al., 2016). It is an open database, and any parent may check beforehand if there were any adverse cases reported on the planned vaccination. Any vaccination may lead to side effects, but they are minimized during the preparation production, and the doctors carefully consider individual reactions to the vaccine so that to prevent any unpleasant consequences.
From a medical point of view, people’s health is the most significant concern. Declining vaccination is deteriorative as it causes a threat to life. This opinion is subjective in terms of its exclusively medical position and does not take into account the psychological, sociological, or political aspects of life. However, medical workers must make people realize what the function of vaccination is and let them decide how they want to treat their life.
To conclude, the Hib vaccination has been carefully established and it effectively prevents dangerous infections such as bacterial meningitis and otitis. Children before the age of two are the most vulnerable for these effects, although people underimmunized and unimmunized individuals, as well as people with the impairment of splenic functioning, should also take measures for Hib prevention. That is why they must receive the treatment at the proper time. Numerous vaccines have been produced so far, and they can be chosen depending on the individual conditions. However, parents and doctors should be aware of the possibility of aversive effects, although the vaccine rarely causes serious consequences. It is crucial to keep in mind that the Hib vaccine has prevented the most common cause of meningitis in infants. Therefore, Hib vaccination is necessary for providing a healthy human life.
References
Butler, D. F., & Myers, A. L. (2018). Changing epidemiology of haemophilus influenzae in children. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America, 32(1), 119–128.
Klein, N. P., Abu-Elyazeed, R., Cornish, M., Leonardi, M. L., Weiner, L. B., Silas, P. E., Grogg, S. E., Varman, M., Frenck, R.W., Cheuvart, B., Baine, Y., Miller, J. M., Leyssen, M., Mesaros, N., Roy-Ghanta, S. (2017). Lot-to-lot consistency, safety and immunogenicity of 3 lots of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine: Results from a phase III randomized, multicenter study in infants. Vaccine, 35(28), 3564–3574.
Scherer, L. D., Shaffer, V. A., Patel, N., & Zikmund-Fisher, B. J. (2016). Can the vaccine adverse event reporting system be used to increase vaccine acceptance and trust? Vaccine, 34(21), 2424–2429.
Scott Ricci, S., & Kyle, T. (2009). Maternity and pediatric nursing. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.