Final answer:
The nurse recommends the Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine to protect the child mainly against meningitis, a serious infection that can cause severe complications in young children without vaccination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse urges the mother of a 6-month-old to get her child inoculated with Haemophilus influenzae type B to protect against serious diseases, including meningitis. Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib, is an encapsulated pleomorphic gram-negative coccobacillus that can be the primary cause of meningitis in children aged 2 months through 5 years.
The Hib vaccine is highly effective in preventing infection, with immunization doses recommended at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, followed by a booster at 12 to 15 months. Without this vaccine, infants older than 2 months old are at risk for higher intracranial pressure from infection, leading to a 5% mortality rate and a 20% incidence of deafness or brain damage in survivors.