Difference between HiB and Meningococcal?

[emma1325]

The HiB vaccine is given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 months...

and the MCV vaccine is given to certain high-risk children at age 2-3 years.


Are they both for the same exact disease and simply different versions of the same vaccine?

Or is HiB for heemophilus influenzae type b which can possibly lead to meningitis while meningococcal is for actual meningitis?


Please, someone help me make sense of this! Thanks for any info.

[EviesMom]

HiB is for Haemophilus influenzae type b, which can cause meningitis. Pneumoccocal is for Neisseria meningitidis. Many states seem to require HiB for daycare/preschool, but not Pneumoccocal. I believe both are on the infant schedule in Canada.

From the CDC: Before the 1990s, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis, but new vaccines being given to all children as part of their routine immunizations have reduced the occurrence of invasive disease due to H. influenzae. Today, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis are the leading causes of bacterial meningitis.

[FernG]

Meningococci is a type of bacteria with many, many subgroups (e.g., seriotypes). The MCV vaccine covers a few strains.

Meningococci and HiB and many, many other bacterias and viruses can cause meningitis. Meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain. You cannot truly vaccinate against meningitis because so many things can cause it.

[amnesiac]

There are 3 vaccines covering different bacteria that can potentially all cause meningitis.

Hib- Haemophilus influenzae type b
PCV/PPSV - Streptococcus pneumoniae
mcv/mpsv - Neisseria meningitidis

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by amnesiac

There are 3 vaccines covering different bacteria that can potentially all cause meningitis.

Hib- Haemophilus influenzae type b
PCV/PPSV - Streptococcus pneumoniae
mcv/mpsv - Neisseria meningitidis

Gotcha!!

Thanks so much, and to the others who answered.