[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/05\/new-vaccinations-for-older-kids\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/05\/new-vaccinations-for-older-kids\/","headline":"New Vaccinations for Older Kids: When Are Kids Done With Vaccines?","name":"New Vaccinations for Older Kids: When Are Kids Done With Vaccines?","description":"Many parents are surprised to find that children need new vaccinations and boosters well into their teen years.","datePublished":"2019-05-27","dateModified":"2022-10-03","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","name":"Pediatrics","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/pediatrics\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/vaccinations-for-teens-and-young-adults.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/vaccinations-for-teens-and-young-adults.jpg","height":326,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/05\/new-vaccinations-for-older-kids\/","about":["Family Health","Pediatrics"],"wordCount":727,"keywords":["boosters","disease","immunizations","teenagers","vaccines"],"articleBody":"Once your kids reach adolescence, you may think new vaccinations are a thing of the past. So you might be surprised to learn that throughout the teen years (and even into young adulthood) there are a number of vaccines for kids, as well as boosters, that doctors recommend.\u201cWhen children return to school, they\u2019re going to be exposed to a multitude of various viruses and bacteria that they otherwise may not have been,\u201d Dr. Stephen Barbera, MD, UPMC Children’s Hospital, tells WPXI. \u201cBy providing vaccinations to prevent these illnesses, it\u2019s going to be really important for the whole community and for your child.\u201dHere are the vaccinations you should ask your doctor about.Vaccinations for Teens and Young AdultsCOVID-19 vaccineChildren 5 and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is safe and effective against COVID-19 and its variants. It is the best way to reduce the risk of infection, severe illness, hospitalization, and death.The vaccine is free and widely available. To schedule a vaccination appointment for your child with UPMC, visit Vaccine.UPMC.com.HPV vaccineThe HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine helps prevent cervical cancer, as well as certain head and neck cancers, including throat cancer. HPV causes nearly 34,000 cancers in men and women annually in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The vaccine can prevent most of them from developing. The CDC recommends that both girls and boys get their first dose between age 11 and 12, and the second dose six months later. If your child is older than 14, three doses are recommended.Meningococcal boosterThis booster is one of the most important vaccines for kids. Your child should receive their first dose of the meningococcal vaccine between age 11 and 12. The second dose is recommended at age 16. College students living in dorms are particularly susceptible to meningitis, which spreads through coughing, sneezing, and kissing.The disease, an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, causes death in one in every 10 people infected. Survivors often face long-lasting problems, such as deafness, developmental disabilities, strokes, and seizures.TdapDoctors give the Tdap vaccine, which stands for tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis, to children between age 11 and 12.If your older teenager never received it, they should get the vaccine as soon as possible. All three diseases can be deadly, but vaccines have made diphtheria rare in the United States. Tetanus enters the body through puncture wounds. Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a severe cough that can last for weeks. It can be fatal in young children; in older children and adults, it can lead to pneumonia and other complications.HepAThe CDC recommends the hepatitis A vaccine for babies between 12 and 23 months, and a second dose six months later. But if your older child didn’t have it as a baby, it’s best to get it as soon as possible. Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by a virus. It’s rarely life-threatening in children but can be more serious when spread to elderly or ill relatives.Annual flu shotTeens should get an annual flu shot, says the CDC, ideally by the end of October. The flu changes from season to season, so it’s important to get new vaccinations annually. In other words, last year’s flu shot won’t protect you from this year’s flu.Travel vaccinesIf your older child plans to travel outside the United States, it’s important to know which vaccines are required in the country they plan to visit. Check with the CDC for current information on international travel and vaccines.Teens with Chronic Medical ConditionsIf your teen has a chronic medical condition, such as an immunodeficiency, chronic lung disease, or diabetes mellitus, it is important to speak with their doctors about additional vaccines that may be recommended to protect their health.\u201cVaccines have been available for more than 200 years and have been extensively studied,\u201d says Dr. Barbera. \u201cWe provide those vaccinations at certain defined intervals so we know that children will be protected.\u201dFind a physician for your teen or connect with us at MyUPMC. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-533-UPMC between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on May 27, 2019, and was last reviewed on October 3, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2019","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"05","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/\/05\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"New Vaccinations for Older Kids: When Are Kids Done With Vaccines?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/05\/new-vaccinations-for-older-kids\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]