Hib/Men C vaccine FAQs

Who should have the vaccination?

How will I know when and where to take my baby for their Hib/Men C vaccination?

What should I do if my baby had a bad reaction after a previous dose of Hib?

Can my baby cope with so many vaccines at one time?

Can my baby have the Hib/Men C, MMR, Men B and PCV (pneumococcal vaccine) all at the same time?

Are there any reasons why my baby shouldn't have the Hib/MenC vaccine?

Can Hib/Men C vaccine be given to older children and adults?

What is Hib?

What is meningococcal disease?

Who should have Hib/Men C vaccination?

The Hib/Men C vaccine is routinely offered to all babies at one year of age.

Find out when your baby's childhood vaccinations are due.

How will I know when to take my baby for their Hib/Men C vaccination?

You should receive an automatic appointment from your GP surgery or local child health clinic. If you have not received one, or have any concerns, contact them to make an appointment.

Find vaccination tips for parents.

What should I do if my baby had a bad reaction after a previous dose of Hib?

The only medical reason for not giving the Hib/MenC vaccine is if your baby had a confirmed anaphylactic reaction (serious allergic reaction) to a previous dose of the Hib-containing vaccine, the 5-in-1 vaccine, given at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age.

If your baby had other side effects after a previous dose of Hib vaccine, they can still receive further doses because the benefits of the protection given against these diseases far outweigh the discomfort of side effects.

Read more about Hib/Men C side effects.

Can my child cope with being given so many vaccines when they're so young?

Yes. The vaccines that babies are given in the first year of life are minor compared with the tens of thousands of bacteria and viruses in the environment that babies have to cope with every day.

Read more about why vaccines do not overload a child's immune system.

Can my child have the Hib/Men C, MMR, Men B and pneumo jabs all at the same time?

Yes, it is safe and recommended that these four vaccines are given together at one year of age. Ideally, each injection should be given in a different part of your baby's body, so probably in each arm and each leg.

Are there any reasons why a baby shouldn't have the Hib/Men C vaccine?

There are very few reasons why babies cannot be immunised, however the Hib/Men C vaccine should not be given to babies who have had a confirmed anaphylactic reaction (serious allergic reaction) to a previous dose of the Hib vaccine, or to any component of the vaccine.

Can the Hib/Men C vaccine be given to older children and adults?

The Hib/Men C vaccine is not licensed for older children and adults.

What is Hib?

Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) is an infection that can cause a number of serious illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis and blood poisoning.

What is meningococcal disease?

Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that commonly affects the protective membranes that surround the brain (causing meningitis) or the blood (causing blood poisoning). The Men C part of this vaccine only protects you against meningococcal meningitis, and not against any other type of meningitis.

Read more about the Hib/Men C vaccine.