Recommended Adolescent Immunizations: FAQs
posted: Apr. 21, 2023.
Teens are surrounded by bacteria and viruses. You want your teen to be protected against illness. One of the easiest ways to give your adolescent excellent protection is having your teen immunized. Your pediatrician can help. The pediatricians at Decatur Pediatric Group in Lithonia, Clarkston, and Smyrna, GA, offer a wide range of medical services for children and adolescents, including immunizations, to help your teen stay healthy.
What You Need to Know about Immunizations for Adolescents
As a parent, you need to know the facts about immunizations. These are just a few frequently asked questions and answers about immunizations:
Which immunizations does my teen need?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, these are the recommended immunizations for adolescents, ages 13 to 18:
- COVID
- Influenza (flu) which is administered every year
- Meningococcal disease (MenACWY) the second dose of which is given at 16 years old
- Serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) which is given at 16 to 18 years
What if my teen has missed a dose?
Catch-up doses of these vaccines can be given to adolescents:
- HPV
- Tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Polio
- Measles, mumps, rubella
- Chickenpox
Why does my teen need immunizations?
Immunizations protect your teen against serious and deadly diseases. When your teen is protected, it also protects others your teen is close to, including you and your family members.
Do immunizations work?
Yes. Immunizations have a success rate of 90% to 99% according to healthchildren.org.
Are immunizations safe?
Yes. Immunizations are rigorously tested and approved by the FDA and CDC before they are released for public use.
To read more detailed information about recommended immunizations for teens ages 13-18, please click here.
Want to Know More?
To learn more about recommended immunizations for adolescents and how our pediatrician can help, call the pediatricians at Decatur Pediatric Group in Lithonia, Clarkston, and Smyrna, GA. You can reach them in the office by calling (404) 296-7133, so call today.