Which Immunizations Does Your Teen Need?
Protecting your child from infectious diseases is not something that’s on your back to school supply list, but it is something you should be talking to your doctor during their next check up. There are 3 vaccines that are recommended for teens and pre-teens, which might be something to look into before sending your children back to school this fall.
HPV
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus that spreads among people when they have sexual intercourse. The infection can lead to cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers in females and penile cancer in men. It can also cause anal cancer, throat cancer, and genital warts in both men and women. Every year approximately 14 million people, including sexually active teens become infected. The vaccine is recommended when you reach 11 or 12 years of age. The sooner they get it, the higher the immune response. The HPV vaccination is a series of shots given over a period of several months, so make sure you contact your doctor to make sure your child receives all of them.
Meningococcal Vaccine
This vaccine protects against the bacteria that causes meningococcal disease, which is cause by Neisseria meningitides bacteria. The 2 most severe and common illnesses caused by these types of bacteria include infections of the fluid and lining around the brain and spinal cord, as well as bloodstream infections. Meningococcal disease is not very common, but it can be deadly. Pre-teens should receive this vaccine when they reach 11 or 12 years of age.
