Absence of meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b in The Netherlands following twofold vaccination
van Alphen, L.; Spanjaard, L.; van der Ende, A.; Dankert, J.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 139(17): 880-884
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 7739736 Document Number: 442779
To determine the two-year results of nationwide vaccination with Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine on the occurrence of Hib meningitis in the Netherlands. Retrospective controlled study. The Netherlands. Children born since April 1, 1993 are vaccinated at the age of 3, 4, 5 and 11 months to protect them from infections with Hib. The number of Hib meningitis patients in the period 1 April, 1993 to 1 April, 1995, among infants born in this period who were offered the Hib vaccine (study group), was compared with the number of Hib meningitis patients in the period 1 April, 1991 to 1 April, 1993 among children born in last-mentioned period (control group). Twenty-one cases of meningitis by Hib were observed in the study group. Twelve children who, as a consequence of their age, had only been vaccinated once or not at all; 7 children were not vaccinated for several reasons. In addition one patient was infected by H. influenzae type f strain and one by a non-typable strain. In the control group 185 cases of Hib meningitis occurred. Hib meningitis was not observed among infants who had been vaccinated at least twice.