Immunization of Adolescents for Ob-Gyns

UPDATED: ACIP/CDC has released the Adolescent Immunization Schedule for 2013, and the college has endorsed the schedule.

NEW: The Institute of Medicine has released a report, "The Childhood Immunization Schedule and Safety: Stakeholder Concerns, Scientific Evidence, and Future Studies." In addition, The American Academy of Pediatrics has released this response.

CDC has released Seasonal Influenza statements for Young Adults (19-24 years of age):

1. 1. Everyone, including adults between 19 and 24 years of age, is recommended to receive the seasonal flu vaccine, even if vaccinated the year before.

2. 2. Getting sick with the flu can result in missed school, work, and extra-curricular activities.

3. 3. Adults between the ages of 19 and 24 were hit particularly hard by the 2009 H1N1 virus. This virus is expected to continue circulating during the 2012-2013 flu season, along with other influenza viruses. 

4. 4. Vaccination of adults 19 through 24 years of age with certain long-term medical conditions is particularly important because they are at high risk of serious illness if they get the flu. This includes, for example, people with asthma (even if mild or controlled) and diabetes (types 1 and 2).

5. 5. Adults 19 through 24 years of age may spread flu to friends and family who are at high risk for flu complications such as grandparents, younger siblings, or people with certain medical conditions like asthma or diabetes.

6. 6. CDC recommends adults 19-24 years of age also follow everyday preventive actions. (See everyday preventive actions messages.)

7. 7. For the full list of medical conditions that put someone at high risk, see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/high_risk.htm.

8. 8. If you are at high risk of serious flu complications and get sick with the flu, your doctor may recommend treatment with antiviral drugs. (See Antiviral Drugs messages) 

HPV Vaccination Information for Parents and Teens: 

HPV Vaccine Factsheet for Parents

HPV Article

In addition to vaccination against seasonal influenza (flu), ob-gyns should encourage their adolescent patients to get immunized against the other vaccine-preventable diseases that pose a risk for their age and ethnic group and lifestyle. As they approach adolescence, children generally develop risks for more diseases. In addition, the protection provided by some early childhood vaccines can wear off.

Updated! IMMUNIZATION INFO FOR PRETEENS AND TEENS FROM CDC: CDC has created a Web site dedicated to immunization issues for preteens and teens. The site includes information for parents, health professionals and for preteens and teens, plus multimedia resources such as posters, flyers, videos, Web buttons and health e-cards. It also links to an adolescent immunization scheduler that can be downloaded to a personal computer to determine the vaccines needed according to the CDC adolescent immunization schedule. Visit the CDC preteen/teen immunization Web site.

Teen toolkit from the College for providers and patients.

The CDC has added new material to their preteen/teen immunization website, including Video and Audio resources, fact sheets for patients, fact sheets for providers, vaccine reminder e-cards, and information for parents.

Visit the College's Adolescent Health Care webpage for more information on providing care to your adolescent patients (ACOG login required).

Read the College's Committee Opinion on The Inital Reproductive Health Visit.

Click here for ACIP's recommendations on vaccinating adolescents published January 28, 2011.

Please visit the CDC's website for more information concerning adolescent immunizations.

The National Meningitis Association website provides information about pre-teen vaccinations.

Screening Questionnaires for Children and Adolescent Immunizations

Immunization of Adolescents for Patients

NEW: The College has endorsed the recently released 2013 ACIP/CDC Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents.

NEW: The Institute of Medicine has released a report, "The Childhood Immunization Schedule and Safety: Stakeholder Concerns, Scientific Evidence, and Future Studies." In addition, The American Academy of Pediatrics has released this response.

Don't forget, your child may need vaccinations before beginning the school year.

In addition to a vaccine against seasonal influenza (flu), there are vaccines for many other diseases that teens are at risk for contracting. See the list below. Teens should get vaccines for those diseases that pose a special risk for their age, ethnic group, and lifestyle. As they approach adolescence, children generally develop risks for more diseases. Also, the protection provided by some early childhood vaccines can wear off.

Vaccines for preteens and teens:

• Flu vaccine each year

• Tdap vaccine for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) at age 11–12 years

• MCV4 vaccine for meningococcal disease (meningitis and sepsis) at age 11–12 years with a booster at age 16 years

• HPV vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV) in a three-shot series at age 11–12 years. Click here for a HPV Vaccine Factsheet for Parents.

 If your child missed a vaccine at the recommended age, contact your health care provider about getting a catch-up shot.

Updated! The CDC has added new material to their preteen/teen immunization website, includingVideo and Audioresources, fact sheets for patients, vaccine reminder e-cards, and information for parents.

Immunization info for preteens and teens from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention(CDC): CDC has added new material to their preteen/teen immunization Web site. The site provides video and audio resources, fact sheets for teen and preteen patients, vaccine reminder e-cards, information for parents, and more. You can even download the Adolescent Immunization Scheduler to determine what vaccines your child age 7–18 years needs. Visit the CDC preteen/teen immunization Web site.

Vaccines for Preteens and Teens: What Parents Should Know

HPV Vaccine Factsheet for Parents

HPV Article