Hib/MenC vaccine

The Hib/MenC vaccine helps protect your baby against 2 of the causes of meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning). This vaccine will help protect your child through early childhood.

Your child will need a dose of the combined Hib/MenC vaccine between 12 and 13 months of age to:

• boost their protection against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• help protect against meningitis and septicaemia caused by meningococcal group C (MenC) bacteria

The Hib/MenC vaccine doesn't protect against meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning) caused by:

• meningococcal group B bacteria
• other bacteria or viruses such as pneumococcal or mumps

What's Hib?

Hib is an infection caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria. It can lead to a number of major illnesses such as septicaemia (blood poisoning), pneumonia and meningitis.

More about Haemophilus influenzae type b 

What's meningitis?

Meningitis is inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. This causes pressure on the brain resulting in symptoms like:

• severe headache
• stiff neck
• dislike of bright light
• drowsiness
• convulsions/fits

Meningitis can progress very rapidly and can lead to:

• deafness
• blindness
• epilepsy
• learning difficulties

It can even lead to death.

More about meningitis

What's septicaemia (blood poisoning)?

Septicaemia (blood poisoning) is a serious, life-threatening infection that gets worse very quickly and the risk of death is higher compared with meningitis.

The signs of cold hands and feet, pale skin, vomiting and being very sleepy or difficult to wake can come on quickly.

More about meningitis and septicaemia 

The Hib/MenC combined vaccine, also commonly known as a booster, is given as an injection at your baby's 12 to 13 months appointment alongside the pneumococcal, MMR, and MenB vaccines.

This vaccine will boost their protection against Hib and help protect your baby against meningitis and septicaemia caused by MenC bacteria.

What vaccine's used?

The Menitorix vaccine's routinely used in Scotland.

What's a booster immunisation?

Booster immunisations are given to increase the protection already given by a primary immunisation. Sometimes the protection offered by a primary immunisation begins to wear off after a time. A booster dose extends the period of protection later into life.

The Hib vaccine only helps protect your child against the type of meningitis caused by the Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria – it doesn't protect against any other type of meningitis.

How effective is the vaccine?

The illnesses caused by Hib can kill if they're not treated quickly. Before the Hib vaccine was introduced, there were about 800 cases of Hib in young children every year.

Before the MenC vaccine was introduced, the disease caused about 1500 cases and 150 deaths each year in the UK.

How do we know the vaccine's safe?

All medicines (including vaccines) are tested for safety and effectiveness by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The vaccine meets the high safety standards required for it to be used in the UK and other European countries. The vaccine has been given to millions of people worldwide.

Once they're in use, the safety of vaccines continues to be monitored by the MHRA.

Your baby will get the Hib/Menc C vaccination at your GP practice or health centre.

When's my baby going to be immunised?

Your baby will be offered the Hib/MenC vaccine at 12 to 13 months. Your local NHS Health Board will contact you to let you know about their arrangements for your baby's routine childhood immunisations.

Most GP practices and health centres run special immunisation baby clinics. If you can’t get to the clinic, contact the practice or health centre to make another appointment.

Improving how vaccines are offered in Scotland

To improve how vaccinations are offered to you or your child, you may notice:

• you're invited to a new location to receive your immunisations instead of your GP practice
• the health professional giving your immunisations changes

You'll still receive clear information about the location, date and time of your appointment.

After having the vaccine there may be side effects, but these are usually mild.

Side effects

Your baby may have redness, swelling or tenderness where they had the injection.

About half of all the babies who have the vaccine may become irritable, and about 1 in 20 could get a mild fever.

If you think your baby has had any other reaction to the vaccine and you're concerned about it, talk to your GP, practice nurse or health visitor.

Infant paracetamol

Vaccines protect your baby against the risk of very serious infections and should not be delayed.

Fever can be expected after any vaccination.  Fevers are usually mild, so you only need to give a dose of infant paracetamol if your child isn’t comfortable or is unwell.  Read the instructions on the bottle very carefully. 

Fever is more common when the MenB vaccine is given with the other routine vaccines at 8 and 16 weeks.  Infant paracetamol should be given to babies after each of these immunisation appointments.

Public Health Scotland’s booklet What to expect after immunisations: Babies and children up to 5 years has more information.

In infants who do develop a fever after vaccination, the fever tends to peak around 6 hours after vaccination and is nearly always gone completely within 2 days. 

Ibuprofen can be used to treat a fever and other post-vaccination reactions.  Giving ibuprofen at the time of vaccination to prevent a fever is not effective.

Remember, never give medicines that contain aspirin to children under 16.

Information about treating a fever in children.

If an infant still has a fever 48 hours after vaccination or if parents are concerned about their infant’s health at any time, they should seek advice from their GP or NHS 111. 

The diseases vaccines protect against are very serious and therefore vaccination should not be delayed because of concerns about post-vaccination fever.

If you're worried about your child, trust your instincts. Speak to your GP or phone the 111 service.

Read more about the common side effects of immunisations that might occur in babies and young children up to 5 years of age.

Where can I report suspected side effects?

You can report suspected side effects of vaccines and medicines through the Yellow Card Scheme.

This can be done by:

• visiting the Yellow Card Scheme website
• phoning the free Yellow Card hotline on 0808 100 3352 (available Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 2.00pm)

Further information

If you’re unsure about anything, or have any questions about the Hib/MenC vaccine, phone:

• your GP practice
• the NHS inform helpline

If you’re unsure about anything, or have any questions about the Hib/MenC vaccine, phone:

• your GP practice
• the NHS inform helpline

Immunisation leaflet

Public Health Scotland have produced a leaflet explaining routine childhood immunisations in Scotland including the Hib/MenC vaccine, why it's offered and when it's given.

This leaflet's also available in Easy Read English and other languages - including Polish, Mandarin (Simplified Chinese) and Arabic.

Protecting your child

Protect your child against serious diseases (Leaflet)

Protect your child against serious diseases (Audio)

Protect your child against serious diseases (BSL)

After immunisation

What to expect after immunisations in babies and young children (Audio)

What to expect after immunisation: Babies and young children (Leaflet)

What to expect after immunisation: Babies and young children (BSL)