Prevention
Staying up to date with recommended vaccines and maintaining healthy habits, like washing hands often and not having close contact with people who are sick, help prevent disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae.
Vaccine
Vaccines can prevent Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease. However, the Hib vaccine does not prevent disease caused by the other types of H. influenzae.
Learn more about Hib vaccination, including who should get vaccinated.
Re-infection
People can get H. influenzae more than once. A previous Hib infection might not protect you from future infection. Therefore, CDC recommends Hib vaccination even if someone has had Hib disease in the past.
Preventive antibiotics
H. influenzae can spread to people who have close or lengthy contact with a person with H. influenzae disease. In certain cases, close contacts of someone with H. influenzae disease should receive antibiotics to prevent them from getting sick. A doctor or local health department will make recommendations for who should receive preventive antibiotics.
