Hib
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Hib: 4 doses on the on-time schedule and as few as 1 dose when started later; healthy children who reach 5 years generally do not need it (CDC). The Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine protects against Hib (a cause of meningitis & epiglottitis).
Typically required for school
Key takeaways
- On the routine, on-time schedule, Hib is a 4-dose series. Healthy children who reach 5 years of age generally don't need it at all, and a later start can mean as little as a single dose.
- Hib can be given on a slower, spaced-out schedule. A later start can even reduce the total number of doses. Minimum ages and intervals still apply, and the planner enforces them automatically.
- Some Hib products listed on this page use an aluminum adjuvant and others do not; see each brand on this page. The planner can limit aluminum-containing vaccines per visit if you prefer.
- Hib is required for kindergarten entry in most US states. Check your state's exact list on the requirements-by-state pages.
What changes when Hib is delayed?
On the routine, started-on-time schedule, Hib is a 4-dose series. Delaying the start does not always change this, but for several vaccines the CDC's own catch-up rules mean a later start needs fewer total doses. Here is what applies to Hib:
- DELAY SAVINGS: starting at 15–59 months needs only a SINGLE dose.
- Healthy children who reach age 5 (60 months) do not need Hib at all.
- Most protective window for Hib disease is infancy; delaying trades fewer shots for later protection.
Healthy children who reach 5 years of age generally do not need Hib at all.
The exact timing depends on your child's age and how you space visits. The spaced-out scheduler applies these rules automatically and shows the minimum doses still needed by your deadline. For a fuller look at timing, risks and catch-up, see the delay guide for Hib.
What brands and ingredients does the Hib vaccine have?
The US-licensed products below are listed with their manufacturer, aluminum content, preservative and egg flags, and full ingredient list. Each card links to the official CDC or FDA source. Formulations change — treat these as a starting point, not the final word.
Single-disease brands
ActHIB
Sanofi
PRP-T conjugate — no aluminum.
Ingredients (3)
- sodium chloride
- formaldehyde
- sucrose
Hiberix
GSK
PRP-T conjugate — no aluminum.
Ingredients (3)
- formaldehyde
- sodium chloride
- lactose
PedvaxHIB
Merck
PRP-OMPC conjugate — the only Hib brand that contains aluminum.
Ingredients (2)
- amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate
- sodium chloride
Combination brands that include this vaccine
Pentacel
Sanofi · DTaP + IPV + Hib
Ingredients (9)
- aluminum phosphate
- formaldehyde
- glutaraldehyde
- 2-phenoxyethanol
- polysorbate 80
- sucrose
- bovine serum albumin
- neomycin
- polymyxin B sulfate
Vaxelis
MSP Vaccine Company (Merck + Sanofi) · DTaP + IPV + Hib + HepB (hexavalent)
Ingredients (10)
- aluminum (from adjuvant salts)
- formaldehyde
- glutaraldehyde
- polysorbate 80
- bovine serum albumin
- neomycin
- streptomycin
- polymyxin B sulfate
- ammonium thiocyanate
- yeast protein
Hib vaccine FAQs
How many doses of Hib does my child need?
On the routine, on-time schedule, Hib is a 4-dose series. Healthy children who reach 5 years of age generally don't need it at all, and a later start can mean as little as a single dose.
Can the Hib vaccine be delayed or spaced out?
Yes. Hib can be given on a slower, spaced-out schedule. A later start can even reduce the total number of doses. Minimum ages and intervals still apply, and the planner enforces them automatically.
Does the Hib vaccine contain aluminum?
Some do. Some Hib products listed on this page use an aluminum adjuvant and others do not; see each brand on this page. The planner can limit aluminum-containing vaccines per visit if you prefer.
Is Hib required for school?
Hib is required for kindergarten entry in most US states. Check your state's exact list on the requirements-by-state pages. See requirements by state.
Plan Hib on a slower schedule
See how many Hib doses your child would still need and when, on a spaced-out plan that finishes in time for school. Review the result with your child's healthcare practitioner.
Build my plan →Sources
Primary sources only. Links open the publisher's own page.
- CDC Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age (opens in a new tab)
- CDC Catch-up Immunization Schedule (Table 2) (opens in a new tab)
- CDC Child and Adolescent Schedule Notes (opens in a new tab)
- CDC Vaccine Excipient Summary (Pink Book, Appendix B) (opens in a new tab)
- FDA Vaccines Licensed for Use in the United States (opens in a new tab)
- CDC CDC Vaccine Excipient Summary (Appendix B) (opens in a new tab)
- FDA FDA — ActHIB (opens in a new tab)
- FDA FDA — Hiberix (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Merck PI — PedvaxHIB (opens in a new tab)
- DailyMed FDA/DailyMed PI — Pentacel (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Merck PI — Vaxelis (opens in a new tab)
- FDA FDA — Vaxelis (opens in a new tab)