Adolescents & Teens

Preteen Vaccine Week

January 17-23, 2010

Preteen Vaccine Week promotes the preteen healthcare provider visit and immunizations for 11- and 12-year-olds that can protect them against diseases.

Immunizations Protect Your Health and the Health of Those You Care For

For preteens: Getting shots may sting a little, but it's much better than getting sick. Immunizations will help you stay healthy, so you can keep doing the things you enjoy, instead of being sick in bed.

It's important for you to get your shots because you can spread diseases to others, even before you feel sick. If you get your shots, you will also help keep your friends, family, and school environment healthy.

For parents: You can not be by your preteen's side all the time. Immunizing your child is one thing you can do to protect their health for many years to come.

If your preteen does not have health insurance, or is partially insured, ask your healthcare provider or local health department about getting help to pay for vaccines.

Preteen Health Care Visits

All 11- and 12-year-olds should see their healthcare provider to make sure they are up-to-date on their immunizations. Preteens will receive immunizations recommended for their age.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Society for Adolescent Medicine (SAM) recommend that all 11- and 12-year-olds get a preteen check-up. This visit is a great opportunity for parents and preteens to discuss with their healthcare providers the challenges of growing up, such as:

• Eating right
• Standing up to peer pressure
• Avoiding drugs and alcohol
• Staying healthy

If your adolescent has not yet had a preteen check-up, give them a healthy start and make an appointment today!

Recommended Immunizations

Recommended shots for 11- and 12-year-olds include:

• Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4) to protect against certain serious types of bacterial meningitis and other related infections.
• Tdap booster to help prevent against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series to protect against certain cancers and genital warts.
• A second varicella (chickenpox) vaccine (if they have never had the disease).
• Seasonal influenza vaccine.
• Novel H1N1 influenza vaccine.

Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule

Meningococcal

Meningococcal disease is an infection in the blood or areas around the brain and spinal cord. This rare but serious disease can kill healthy preteens or leave survivors with disabilities. About 10% of teens who get the disease die from it and 15% will have long-term disability.

Close contact such as kissing and sharing drinks or coughing and living in crowded conditions, can increase the risk of getting this disease.

Meningococcal vaccine is recommended for all 11- to 18-year-olds, college freshmen living in dorms, and other groups at high risk for meningococcal disease.

Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis

The protection from diseases received through childhood vaccinations can wear off over time. It is important that preteens and adults receive the tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap) vaccine for protection against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).

Along with influenza, pertussis is a common respiratory disease in teens. In the last two decades, the proportion of reported pertussis cases has been increasing, particularly in adolescents and adults. Pertussis can cause severe coughing spells that lead to vomiting or broken ribs. They can even be hospitalized and miss weeks of school.

To help stop the spread of whooping cough, preteens and family members should get the Tdap vaccine.

Human Papillomavirus

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S., with about 20 million people currently infected. In the U.S. each year, about 6.2 million people get a new HPV infection.

A series of three HPV vaccine shots are recommended for 11- and 12-year-old girls to prevent cervical cancer and boys to prevent genital warts. The vaccination series can be started as young as 9 years of age. Vaccination is also recommended for anyone 13 to 26 years of age who have not been previously vaccinated.

The HPV vaccine protects against the most common types of HPV that cause cervical cancer and genital warts. It is important to give this vaccine before their first sexual contact, when they could be exposed to HPV.

Women have an 80% chance of getting HPV by the time they are 50. The HPV vaccine can provide protection for many years. HPV can cause genital warts and penile and anal cancer in men. Each year, about 200 out of 100,000 males are newly diagnosed with genital warts, according to background information cited by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Penile cancer and anal cancer are much rarer. Males can also carry HPV and transmit it sexually to their partners.

When our kids ride their bikes, we make sure they're protected from injury by using a helmet. A helmet is not an invitation to reckless riding. It's a preventive measure—just like the HPV vaccine. Immunizing preteens against HPV does not encourage them to be sexually active; it's protecting them from developing cervical cancer and genital warts in the future.

Varicella

Varicella (chickenpox) is a disease caused by infection with the varicella zoster virus, which causes fever and an itchy rash. Varicella is especially dangerous for adolescents and adults. It can lead to severe skin infections, scars, pneumonia, brain damage, and even death.

Two doses of varicella vaccine are recommended for children, with the first dose administered at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age. The second catch-up dose of varicella vaccine is recommended for children, adolescents, and adults who previously had received one dose.

Although it is possible for vaccinated children to develop chickenpox after exposure to chickenpox (or to shingles), the illness is much milder (fewer pox, shorter illness) in those who have been vaccinated than in those who haven’t been vaccinated. Because mild chickenpox does occur in some vaccinated children who are exposed to chickenpox, a second varicella shot is recommended for people over 4 years of age who have not had chickenpox disease.

Influenza

Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times, can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting an annual flu vaccine. Every year in the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications and about 36,000 people die from flu, making influenza one of the top 10 killers in the United States.

An annual flu vaccine is recommended for people 6 months of age and older to help protect themselves and vulnerable populations from influenza.  

Novel H1N1 influenza vaccine is recommended for people 6 months of age and older to help protect themselves against this virus. Children 6 month through 9 years of age require 2 immunizations separated by 21 days. People 10 years of age and older require a single vaccine.

Preteens should be encouraged to get a flu vaccine during their preteen healthcare provider visit. In Florida, flu season can peak as late as February; getting flu vaccine after fall or winter can still be beneficial into the spring.