Recommended immunizations

The importance of continued immunizations at ages 11 through about 21 years (adolescence) is not always recognized. Adolescents need to continue their immunization series and receive booster shots for ongoing protection (immunity) against diseases. Many adolescents were born after the current recommendations for certain immunizations, such as for hepatitis B, were established. So they did not receive all their needed shots (injections) in early childhood.

The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend a specific immunization schedule for children and adolescents each year.⁴ This schedule outlines the immunizations and booster shots needed during adolescence as well as when catch-up immunizations should be given.

To print a list of what shots are needed, go to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) interactive Web site at www2.cdc.gov/nip/adultImmSched.

Immunizations given during adolescence usually include:

Human papillomavirus (HPV), for girls (What is a PDF document?)

This shot, called Gardasil, protects against four types of HPV that together cause most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts.⁸

Who should get it?

• Girls 11 to 12 years old need three doses, given over 6 months. (The shot can be given to girls as young as 9.)
• The CDC also recommends this shot for females 13 to 26 years old who did not get it when they were younger. But the American Cancer Society states that there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against the shot for women 19 to 26 years old.⁹

If your daughter already has HPV infection, talk with her doctor about whether to get immunized. The shot has not been shown to help existing HPV infection, but it may protect her from other HPV infections.⁸

For help deciding if the HPV vaccine is right for your daughter, see:

Should my daughter get the HPV vaccine?

Meningococcal (MCV4, or Menactra) (What is a PDF document?)

This shot protects against bacterial meningitis and blood infections (sepsis).

Who should get it?

• All adolescents should get this shot at age 11 or 12. Teens ages 13 to 18 who haven't had the shot should get it as soon as possible.
• All college freshmen who live in dormitories and have not had this shot should get it.

If MCV4 (Menactra) is not available, the other form of the vaccine (meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine, or MPSV4) can be given.

Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) (What is a PDF document?)

This booster shot protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough (pertussis).

Who should get it?

• All adolescents age 11 or 12 need this shot.

Other immunizations

Some adolescents may need or want additional immunizations for situations that increase a person's risk for exposure to disease, such as being in group-living situations (when attending college or summer camp) or traveling to foreign countries. These immunizations may include:

Hepatitis A (Hep A) (What is a PDF document?)