The Department of Health is to offer all children aged between six
months and up to four years of age added protection against Hib
disease by introducing a booster dose of Hib vaccine.

This follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and
Immunisation (JCVI) who recently made recommendations to the
Department after considering the recent but small increase in cases
of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease, which can cause a
number of serious illnesses in children including meningitis.

Since 1992, all children have been routinely immunised at two, three
and four months against the disease. This campaign has been a huge
success with cases of Hib falling dramatically, almost disappearing
in young children. However, there has been a very small but gradual
increase in the number of cases of Hib disease reported since 1998.
Although this number is small (122 cases in 2002) and much lower than
the levels seen before the introduction of Hib vaccine (around 800
every year) it is still significant.

The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, has written to GPs and
other health professionals today informing them of the planned
campaign which it is anticipated will start in Spring of this year.

Sir Liam said:

"I have written to health professionals in England to give them
advance notice of our plans to introduce a Hib immunisation catch-up
campaign.

"Vaccinating children against Hib disease has proved very successful
in cutting rates of this disease. Over the last ten years this
vaccination has prevented about 7,300 cases of Hib disease and
approximately 270 deaths in children aged under four. However our
advanced disease surveillance programme has identified a small but
significant increase in cases of Hib recently. In order to halt and
reverse this increase, a Hib vaccination catch-up campaign is being
planned.

"We recognise the vital role that all health professions play in
implementing our immunisation programme, and we recognise their need
to be informed of our plans. We will be working closely with health
professionals to finalise plans for the programme and parents will be
invited to bring their children for immunisation in the same way as
other childhood vaccines."

The new 'catch-up' campaign to reverse the reported increase will be
a booster dose of Hib vaccine offered to all children over the age of
six months and less than four years on April 1 2003. It is
anticipated the campaign will last four months.

Notes for editors

Hib is the term commonly used to describe a disease caused by the
bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type b. Hib disease can cause a
number of serious illnesses in children including meningitis,
infection in joints, pneumonia and epiglottitis (causing swelling of
part of the windpipe causing noisy, painful breathing and even
blockage of the airway).

The disease is most common in children under four years of age (with
the exception of children aged under 3 months where it is rare). The
infection is uncommon in children of 4 years of age or over.

The Hib vaccination programme has been highly successful. Hib disease
fell dramatically with the almost complete disappearance in young
children by 1996. Cases of Hib disease also declined in children and
adults who had not been immunised because less disease was
circulating in the population. We estimate that over the last ten
years, Hib vaccination has prevented about 7300 cases of Hib disease
and approximately 270 deaths in children aged under four in England
and Wales. It has also prevented an estimated further 400 cases and
11 deaths in all people aged over four years.

Laboratory reports of Hib disease in England and Wales (1990-2002).
*provisional data Source PHLS, HRU/CDSC

Because of the very advanced systems in the UK for monitoring the
rates of diseases, and monitoring the impact of immunisation, a small
but gradual increase in the number of cases of Hib disease has been
identified. The number of cases (122 cases in 2002) in children aged
under 4 is much lower than the levels seen before the introduction of
Hib vaccine (around 800 every year).

The start date of the programme will be announced, together with
further details, as soon as possible.

For media enquiries only, please contact David Daley in the
Department of Health Media Centre on 020 7210 4860.

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