Maintaining a high level of immunization in the community is the single most important preventive measure.

Since Hib disease is responsible for considerable proportion of mortality among under five years children in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, introduction of Hib vaccine and achieving high vaccination coverage is an important tool towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal number 4 (MDG4). Accelerating the introduction of the vaccine in the countries in the region is deemed necessary.

 By February 2012, Hib vaccine had been introduced in 19 countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, which accounts for just over three quarters of annual regional births. The average regional coverage of Hib vaccine increased from 1% in 2000 to 53% in 2010.