Preteens face many changes as they grow: new school, new friends, new activities. However, one thing doesn’t change no matter how old they get: they still need vaccines to protect their health. Preteen vaccines guard against Human papilloma virus (HPV), meningitis, whooping cough, flu and other serious diseases.

Preteen Vaccine Week is February 11-17, and the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency urges parents to have their preteens immunized against these serious diseases.

One focus of Preteen Vaccine Week 2018 is on increasing immunization against Human Papillomavirus (HPV). There are two types of HPV vaccine and both vaccines are highly effective at preventing common types of HPV that can lead to cancer. HPV vaccine is, as one of the PVW themes says, cancer prevention.

“Human Papillomavirus can cause certain types of cancer, including cervical cancer and mouth and throat cancers, later in life,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H, County of San Diego Public Health Officer. “Preteens need the protection which HPV vaccine provides.”

Pertussis continues to be a serious problem in San Diego, the state and across the U.S., and is a reminder that parents also need to have their preteens vaccinated with the whooping cough booster shot, Tdap, to protect them against whooping cough. All incoming 7th graders are required to provide proof of immunization against whooping cough before starting school.

There are more immunizations recommended for preteens, too. They include the meningococcal vaccine, and a second chickenpox shot. Everyone 6 months of age and older should receive an annual flu vaccine. Below is a checklist of needed preteen vaccines:

Preteen (11-12 years old) Vaccine Checklist

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine— 3 dose series recommended for girls and boys
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine- required for incoming 7th graders
• Meningococcal vaccine
• Flu vaccine (every year)
• Any catch-up vaccines (e.g. 2nd dose of MMR [measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox)

Parents should contact their doctor to schedule an appointment for needed vaccines. Parents whose children do not have insurance can contact a County Public Health Center (see a list of Centers here:  http://tinyurl.com/ny6aegx) about low-cost vaccines.

The websites www.sdiz.org, www.GetImmunizedCA.org and www.ShotsforSchool.org all contain valuable information about immunizations and the diseases they protect against. Visit www.shotbyshot.org for true stories about people whose lives were affected by vaccine-preventable diseases.