Preteens and adolescents need five vaccines to stay healthy. Yet about 150,000 San Diego teenagers have not received all of them.
February 9-15 is Preteen Vaccine Week and the County Health and Human Services Agency is encouraging parents to get their adolescent children immunized. Scheduling a preteen preventive health visit is a great way to make sure older youth and teens get their recommended vaccines. This can also be done as part of a sports physical or other medical visit.
“Protection from some childhood vaccines begins to wear off over time,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “Vaccinating your children is the best line of defense against these diseases, especially since they can have serious and severe complications and, in some cases, could result in death.”
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends these vaccines and doses at the ages below:
|
Vaccine |
Age |
Doses |
|
Flu (annually) |
6 months and older |
1-2 (depends on prior vaccination history) |
|
HPV (human papillomavirus) |
11 – 12 years |
3 |
|
Pertussis (whooping cough) Tdap booster |
11 – 12 years and older |
1 |
|
Meningococcal disease |
11 – 18 years |
2 |
|
Chickenpox |
11 – 12 years |
2 |
The vaccines are available at physician offices, community clinics, and many retail pharmacies. People without medical insurance can get vaccinated at one of the seven County Public Health Centers.
Everyone 6 months and older should receive an annual flu shot. Two doses of flu vaccine are recommended for children 8 years and younger who are receiving it for the first time.
Two doses of chickenpox vaccine are recommended for unvaccinated adolescents who have not had the disease.
Parents should also be aware that all seventh graders need to show proof they received the pertussis booster shot (Tdap) before starting school.
The meningococcal disease vaccine is recommended for teen and adolescents and also people at increased risk, including college students living in dorms, military recruits and those traveling to parts of the world where meningococcal disease is common.
“Anyone can get meningococcal disease and the bacteria can kill a healthy young person in just one day,” Wooten said.
For more information on vaccines, call the HHSA Immunization Branch at (866) 358-2966 or visit www.sdiz.org.
