Shots for Older Kids
Think your teen or tween has had all her vaccinations? Find out about a couple of new ones she may need.
Whooping cough, tetanus, human papillomavirus (HPV), and meningitis are a few of the diseases your adolescent can avoid with new vaccines. HPV is the newest of the bunch and is recommended for girls by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Ask your pediatrician about the new shots for kids age 11 and up.
Wondering what vaccinations your tween or teen needs, and when? Here's a rundown of what the AAP recommends for adolescents:
What: Tdap, a new booster shot for pertussis, or whooping cough. This also protects against diphtheria and tetanus.
Who should be vaccinated:
Kids should get a booster dose of Tdap after their 11th birthday, if it has been 5 years or more since their last dose.
Other information:
After Tdap booster, they'll need a Td (tetanus) booster every 10 years.
What: MCV4, a new vaccine for meningococcal disease. This illness is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children.
Who should be vaccinated:
All 11-12 year olds, teens about to enter high school (or who are about age 15) who have not been vaccinated, and older teens who are college-bound and plan to live in a dormitory.
What: A new vaccine for the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease that causes about 70% of cervical cancers.
Who should be vaccinated:
Recommended for girls between 11 and 12 years old, but can be given to girls as young as 9. Also recommended for girls/women 13 to 26 years old who have not yet received or completed the vaccine series.
Other information:
Given in a series of three injections over a six-month period. The second dose should be give 2 months after the first dose, followed by the third dose 6 months after the first dose.
Work with your pediatrician to make sure your child's shots are up-to-date.
