What the Hib vaccine protects against
A bacterium (not related to influenza) that was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in young children before vaccination, and also causes a dangerous throat swelling called epiglottitis.
Also known as: the 'Hib' in 5-in-1 / 6-in-1
Why children are given it
Hib disease is now rare in countries that vaccinate, but the bacteria still exist. A booster in the second year maintains protection through the highest-risk period.
From each country's official schedule, checked against its sources (last full check 2026-09-16). Tap a country for its whole schedule and a personalised timeline.
| Country | Routine doses |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 8 weeks (1st of 4) 6-in-1 vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB) 12 weeks (2nd of 4) 6-in-1 vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB) 16 weeks (3rd of 4) 6-in-1 vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB) 18 months (4th of 4 (booster))
6-in-1 vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB) |
| 🇺🇸 United States | 2 months (1st of 3-4) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) 4 months (2nd) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) 6 months (3rd doses, 6-18 mo) Hib / IPV / HepB (3rd doses) 12 to 15 months (Booster)
Hib booster |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 2 months (1st of 3-4) DTaP-IPV-Hib (5-in-1) 4 months (2nd) DTaP-IPV-Hib (5-in-1) 6 months (3rd) DTaP-IPV-Hib (5-in-1) 18 months (4th (booster))
DTaP-IPV-Hib (5-in-1) |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 2 months (from 6 weeks) (1st of 3) Hexavalent (DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib) 4 months (2nd of 3) Hexavalent (DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib) 6 months (3rd of 3) Hexavalent (DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib) 18 months (Booster)
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 6 weeks (1st of 4) Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) 10 weeks (2nd of 4) Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) 14 weeks (3rd of 4) Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) 18 months (4th of 4 (booster))
Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) booster |
| 🇮🇳 India | 6 weeks (1st of 3) Pentavalent (DTP-HepB-Hib) 10 weeks (2nd of 3) Pentavalent (DTP-HepB-Hib) 14 weeks (3rd of 3)
Pentavalent (DTP-HepB-Hib) |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | 3 months (1st (risk groups)) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) 4.5 months (2nd) Hib (risk groups) 6 months (3rd) Hib (risk groups) 18 months (Booster)
Hib booster (risk groups) |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 2 months (1st of 2 (+1)) Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) 3 months (premature babies only) (Extra dose) Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) 4 months (2nd of 2 (+1)) Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) 11 months (3rd (booster))
Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) booster |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | 2 months (1st of 4) 6-in-1 (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB) 4 months (2nd of 4) 6-in-1 (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB) 6 months (3rd of 4) 6-in-1 (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB) 13 months (4th of 4 (booster))
6-in-1 (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB) |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 6 weeks (1st of 3) Infanrix hexa (DTaP-IPV-HepB/Hib) 3 months (2nd of 3) Infanrix hexa (DTaP-IPV-HepB/Hib) 5 months (3rd of 3) Infanrix hexa (DTaP-IPV-HepB/Hib) 15 months (Booster)
Hiberix (Hib) |
| 🇫🇷 France | 2 months (1st of 2 (+ booster)) Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) 4 months (2nd of 2) Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) 11 months (Booster (3rd))
Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) booster |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 6 to 9 weeks (1st of 4) DKTP-Hib-HepB (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) 3 months (2nd of 4) DKTP-Hib-HepB (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) 5 months (3rd of 4) DKTP-Hib-HepB (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) 12 months (4th of 4 (booster))
DKTP-Hib-HepB booster |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 2 months (1st of 3) Penta (DTP-HepB-Hib) 4 months (2nd of 3) Penta (DTP-HepB-Hib) 6 months (3rd of 3)
Penta (DTP-HepB-Hib) |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 2 months (from 6 weeks) (1st of 4) 6-in-1 (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) 4 months (2nd of 4) 6-in-1 (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) 6 months (3rd of 4) 6-in-1 (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) 18 months (4th of 4 (booster))
6-in-1 (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) booster |
Good to know
- Despite the name, Hib is a bacterium and has nothing to do with flu.
- Before the vaccine, Hib was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in young children.
- Most countries give a booster in the second year of life to keep protection strong through the highest-risk years.
Side effects: what is normal
- Soreness or swelling where the injection was given.
- A mild fever or irritability for a day or two.
Most side effects are mild and pass within a day or two. Get medical advice straight away if your child has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or mouth, a fit, a temperature of 38°C or more in a baby under 3 months, or you are worried in any way. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Your doctor, nurse, health visitor or pharmacist can advise on your own child.
It depends on the country. Across the 14 countries that include it on their routine schedule, the first dose is given from 6 weeks to 3 months. In the UK it is given at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months. In the US it is given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 to 15 months. The table on this page shows every country.
Routine schedules give 3 to 4 doses in childhood, depending on the country and the product used. Combination vaccines can mean one injection counts towards several diseases.
Yes - all 14 countries on this site include it on their routine childhood schedule, although the ages and number of doses differ.
Yes. Vaccines on the childhood schedule are given by age, not by sex - girls and boys receive the same doses at the same ages.
It is almost never too late to catch up, and a missed dose rarely means starting again - your doctor or nurse will continue from where your child left off. A few vaccines (such as rotavirus) have upper age limits. Contact your clinic to book a catch-up appointment.
- United Kingdom - NHS / UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
- United States - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / ACIP
- Canada - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) / National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)
- Australia - Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - National Immunisation Program (NIP)
- South Africa - National Department of Health - Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI-SA)
- India - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
- Russia - Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation - National Preventive Vaccination Calendar
- Germany - Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute / ECDC
- Ireland - Health Service Executive (HSE) / National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC)
- New Zealand - Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora / Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)
- France - Ministere de la Sante / Haute Autorite de Sante (HAS) - calendrier vaccinal
- Netherlands - RIVM - National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Rijksvaccinatieprogramma)
- Brazil - Ministerio da Saude - Programa Nacional de Imunizacoes (PNI)
- Singapore - Ministry of Health (MOH) / Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) - National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS)
- NHS - NHS vaccinations and when to have them
- CDC - Possible side effects from vaccines
- WHO - Vaccines and immunization
How we research and check this information: our editorial policy.
More vaccine guides
MMR vaccine · Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine · 6-in-1 vaccine · Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine · Polio vaccine · Hepatitis B vaccine · Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) · Rotavirus vaccine · MenB vaccine · MenACWY and MenC vaccines · HPV vaccine · Children's flu vaccine · BCG (tuberculosis) vaccine · Hepatitis A vaccine · RSV protection for babies
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