Many parents had their children vaccinated when they were younger, but some vaccines are also recommended for older children. Beyond focusing on school supplies, extracurricular activities, and fall schedules, the back-to-school time is a good opportunity for parents to talk with their health care professional about vaccines that may be recommended for their preteen or teen.
Preteens and teens tend to have fewer regular visits with their health care professional as they get older, and visits are often for sports physicals or checkups. However, these types of visits can be used as an opportunity to ask about vaccines for your preteen or teen.
Vaccines are recommended not only for children, preteen and teen boys and girls, but for people across a lifetime, and they help people of all ages maintain health and wellness. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccines to help prevent more than 15 diseases, and has vaccination schedules for children and adults. Some vaccines may require more than one dose.
To learn more about vaccines recommended for preteens and teens and people of all ages, parents should talk to their health care professional. For more information, visit sponsor.WebMD.com/VACCINES.