Hib/MenC vaccine FAQs

Who should have Hib/MenC vaccination?

The Hib/MenC vaccine is routinely offered to all babies at 1 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/MenC 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 serious allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction) to a previous dose of the Hib-containing vaccine, the 6-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.

Find out more about Hib/MenC 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 10s of thousands of bacteria and viruses in the environment that babies have to cope with every day.

Find out more about why vaccines do not overload a child's immune system

Can my child have the Hib/MenC, MMR, MenB and pneumo jabs all at the same time?

Yes, it's safe and recommended that these 4 vaccines are given together at 1 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 should not have the Hib/MenC vaccine?

There are very few reasons why babies cannot be immunised.

But the Hib/MenC vaccine should not be given to babies who have had a confirmed serious allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction) to a previous dose of the Hib vaccine, or to any component of the vaccine.

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

The Hib/MenC 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 MenC part of this vaccine only protects you against meningococcal meningitis, and not against any other type of meningitis.

Find out more about the Hib/MenC vaccine