Ivor Callely
Question:85 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the number of children that have died or suffered severe ailments from haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB) for each of the years 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990 and 1992.
Written Answers. - HIB Vaccine.
Information on the number of children with illnesses resulting from Haemophilus Influenzae type B (Hib) is not available as it is not required to be notified to my Department. It is however estimated that about 1 in 600 children under five years develops some form of the disease. Over half of the cases of Hib infection result in meningitis and around 4 to 5 per cent die from this form of meningitis. The new Hib vaccine was introduced in October 1992 as part of the children's national immunisation schedule. The immunisation programme is structured in a way that protects children in the most vulnerable age groups, that is aged three months to four years.