When you are getting your kids ready for the upcoming school year, make sure to include back-to-school vaccination appointments on your checklist. Vaccines are often thought of as something for babies and young children. However, pre-teens and teens also need vaccines to stay healthy throughout the school year. Vaccination protects pre-teens and teens against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases, such as meningitis and cancers caused by HPV infections. Therefore, we will discuss the basics of back-to-school immunizations.
Back-to-School Immunizations
Is Your Pre-Teen Up-to-Date?
According to CDC recommendations, you need four vaccines for boys and girls when they are 11 or 12 years old. If your pre-teen or teen has not received these vaccines, talk to your doctor here at Brashear Family Medical about getting it for them right away. These vaccines include the following:
Quadrivalent Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine
This vaccine protects against some of the bacteria that can cause infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and bloodstream infections (bacteremia or septicemia).
These illnesses can be extremely serious, even fatal.
HPV Vaccine
This vaccine helps protect against HPV infections that cause cancer. All boys and girls should finish the HPV vaccine series before their 13th birthday.
Tdap Vaccine
This vaccine protects against the following diseases:
- tetanus
- diphtheria
- pertussis (whooping cough)
Flu Vaccine
Every year by the end of October, pre-teens and teens need to get a flu vaccine, if possible.
It is essential for pre-teens and teens with chronic health conditions such as asthma and diabetes to get the flu shot. However, the flu can be serious for even healthy kids.
Check with your doctor here at Brashear Family Medical to ensure that your pre-teen is up to date on all the vaccines he or she needs. Contact us with the link below for more information or to schedule your back-to-school immunizations appointment with us today!
