Immunizations:
Is Your Preteen Up to Date?

By Julia Heinzerling, MPH, President of the California Immunization Coalition
Originally posted Jan. 21, 2008

You should know that preventable diseases are not only still common among children - the rates of some of these diseases are growing.

In 2007, the U.S. saw the highest number of measles cases in nearly a decade, the LA Times reported. That issue came to a head in San Diego in early 2008 when an unvaccinated boy infected 11 of his peers. Similarly, widespread cases of pertussis (whooping cough) are becoming more common, with outbreaks already confirmed this year in Michigan, New Jersey, and Illinois.

Given this growth in some preventable diseases, the California Immunization Coalition supports Preteen Vaccine Week as an opportune time to schedule a preteen doctor visit and arrange vaccinations.

Preteen Vaccine Week will be observed statewide Jan. 18-24, 2009. Some vaccines for adolescents are newly recommended, while others are “booster shots” that extend the protection of infant and childhood immunizations. Recommended immunizations for 11-and 12-year-olds include:

• Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4) to protect against serious types of bacterial meningitis
• Tdap booster to help prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series to protect girls against cervical cancer in adulthood
• A second chickenpox vaccine (if they have never had chickenpox)
• An annual flu vaccine for all adolescents through age 18

Preteens are at an age when they can become more involved in their personal health. The decisions they make today can set a lifetime of healthful choices, making a preteen doctor visit an opportune time for healthcare providers, parents, and preteens to discuss the challenges of growing-up, such as eating right, staying active, and standing up to peer pressure.

If your preteen does not have health insurance, or is only partially insured, ask your doctor or local health department about free or low-cost vaccines.

The California Immunization Coalition (CIC) is dedicated to providing the public, families, and communities with the most accurate, scientifically based information. The Coalition includes county public health departments, health insurance companies, health care agencies, and nonprofit organizations statewide. In addition to networking and partnership opportunities for providers, CIC also offers fact sheets to address parents' common vaccine concerns.

For more information, visit www.immunizeca.org or www.CDC.gov/nip.

Read more about Preteen Vaccine Week>>