What Vaccines Do PreTeens and Teens Need?

What Vaccines Do PreTeens and Teens Need? If you have older kids who got all their vaccines when they were little, you might think they're protected against those diseases for life. But as they grow up, the effects of some childhood immunizations wane, so teens need boosters to stay safe.

Children get other vaccines the first time between the ages of 11 and 16 because that’s when they work best. And if your kids haven’t yet gotten all of the recommended childhood vaccines, now is a great time to catch up.

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What They Need

Every teen or preteen should get these four vaccinations, according to the CDC:

Tdap booster. Babies and little kids get several doses of the DTaP vaccine to protect them against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) during childhood. The effects of this shot wear off over time. To keep your kid protected, get them a Tdap booster shot when they're 11 or 12. It’s safe, with mild side effects, if any.

Meningococcal vaccine. This shot protects against four strains of bacteria that can cause meningococcal disease, which is rare but extremely serious.

There are two particularly dangerous forms: meningitis, which infects the fluid and lining around the brain and can cause brain damage; and septicemia, a deadly blood infection.

These infections can spread through kissing and coughing, and teens are more likely to get them. The best way to protect your child from this disease is to get them vaccinated by the time they're 11 or 12. Older teens need a second shot when they're 16.

HPV vaccine. This targets HPV (human papillomavirus), which 1 in 4 Americans have had at some point. Some strains of HPV make certain types of cancer more likely, including cervical cancer in women, penile cancer in men, as well as anal cancer, mouth/throat cancer, and genital warts in both men and women.

Get your kid vaccinated at age 11 or 12, before they become sexually active. They get three doses spread over 6 months.

Flu vaccine. You and your children (except for babies younger than 6 months) should get it either as a shot or as a nasal spray every fall, ideally by October.

Although most people recover easily from the flu, others develop serious complications like pneumonia.

Children with long-term health issues such as diabetes and asthma should especially get vaccinated yearly, as they are more vulnerable.

If your child can’t get the nasal spray version, ask your doctor if he can get the shot instead.