Vaccines - What Teens Need to Know

One of the greatest advances in medicine in the last 50 years has been the introduction of childhood vaccines. Vaccines have been responsible for saving countless lives and sparing countless others from disabilities due to infectious diseases. While most adolescent would agree that this is a great thing they seldom think about how vaccines have affected theirs lives. Some of our readers may be wondering why TeenHealthFX is focusing on vaccines since many young people believe their vaccine requirements were met in early childhood. The reality is that there are many significant infectious threats in the world today that can pose serious health risks to teenagers. We think that it is extremely important for adolescents’ to be aware that these health threats still exist and could affect them. The good new is that immunizations can prevent many of these diseases. Immunizations not only can protect the health of the adolescents, but also their families, friends and communities. 

There are new vaccines that have recently been developed and that are now available and recommended for all adolescents. The Center for Disease Control has established immunization guidelines to help prevent many of the diseases that pose serious threats to adolescents.

CDC recommended Vaccines and the Diseases they Prevent

HPV (Human Papilloma Virus)

Disease - HPV which infects about 6.2 million Americans each year. About 20 million people, men and women, are thought to have an active HPV infection at any given time. There are many different types of HPV, the most common types causing two different but significantly life altering medical conditions.  HPV types 16 and 18 are a major cause of cervical cancer in woman, and HPV types 6 and 11 are associated with the majority of cases of genital warts. Most people infected with HPV don’t even realize it, because their body’s own immune system is able to take control of the virus and they end up having no visible symptoms.  Unfortunately for the other group of people infected with HPV, they can end up developing genital warts, or pre-cancerous lesions of the genital area and cervix (the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina), which can develop into cancer. 

Vaccine - HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that most commonly cause cervical cancer and genital warts. This vaccine is recommended for 11 and 12 year old girls. Ideally girls should get 3 doses of this vaccine before their first sexual contact when they could be exposed to HPV. If you missed getting the vaccine when you were 11 or 12, talk to your parents and doctor about whether the vaccine is right for you.

Meningococcal Disease (A common cause of Meningitis)

Disease - Meningococcal meningitis is a very serious infection of the lining around the brain and spinal cord. It can cause brain damage or even death. Meningococcal bloodstream infection can cause loss of an arm or leg and even death.

Vaccine - Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) protects against these infections. Pre-teens should receive a single shot of this vaccine during their 11 or 12 year old check-up. If you missed getting the vaccine at your last check up, ask the doctor about getting it now.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Disease – Whooping Cough is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. Although it initially resembles an ordinary cold, whooping cough may eventually turn more serious, particularly in infants. Whooping cough is most contagious before the coughing starts. The cough usually will last 90 days and it is possible that a person could cough so hard that he/she could break a rib or vomit.

Vaccine - Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) is an improvement to the old Td booster because it adds protection from whooping cough while still maintaining protection from tetanus and diphtheria. Pre-teens should receive a single shot of Tdap at their 11 or 12 year old check-up. 

Hepatitis B

Disease – Hepatitis B can cause different types of liver disease including cancer.

Vaccine - Adolescents who did not receive the hepatitis B vaccine during childhood should receive the three-shot course of this vaccine.

Varicella (Chicken Pox)

Disease - Highly contagious; it causes rash, itching, fever and tiredness. It can lead to severe skin infections, scars, pneumonia, brain damage, and death.

Vaccine - Adolescents who have not had chickenpox or the vaccine should receive this vaccine at their 11–12 year old check-up. If anyone is uncertain about having had the disease, a blood test can determine immunity.

Measles, Mumps & Rubella

Disease – Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus. The virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and in the cells that line the lungs. The symptoms are a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes (lasts about a week). Complications can include; diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, seizures, and death.

Mumps is an acute viral illness caused by the mumps virus. Symptoms include; fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite; followed by swelling of salivary glands. Severe complications are rare. However, mumps can cause: inflammation of the brain and/or tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (encephalitis/meningitis), inflammation of the testicles (orchitis), inflammation of the ovaries and/or breasts (oophoritis and mastitis), spontaneous abortion and deafness which is usually permanent.

Rubella is an acute viral disease that causes fever and a rash. Symptoms are a rash and fever for two to three days. Complications can include; Birth defects if acquired by a pregnant woman: deafness, cataracts, heart defects, mental retardation, and liver and spleen damage. 

Vaccine - Adolescents who did not receive the two-shot course of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) during childhood should receive this vaccine at their 11–12 year old check-up.

Influenza (the flu)

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu shot. Every year in the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and; about 36,000 people die from flu. 

Vaccine – The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease.  While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. The vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses or it can make your illness milder if you get a different flu virus. Getting a vaccine is very important for people at high risk for serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart or lung disease and people 65 and older. People who live with or care for those at high risk should also get a flu vaccine to protect their high-risk contact. For people who are needle phobic there is a nasal spray variant that be used with everyone, except asthmatics.

Tetanus

Disease – Tetanus is a serious, often fatal disease caused by bacteria known as Clostridium tetani. The bacteria are commonly found in soil, especially soil treated with manure. People get tetanus when the disease-causing bacteria enter the body through an open wound, such as a cut or scrape. Many people associate tetanus with stepping on a rusty nail but there are other common causes like; splinters, barbed wire, Self-tattooing or piercing and Animal/insect bites. The major symptom of tetanus is painful muscle spasms. These muscle spasms can cause stiffness of the neck, hardness of abdominal muscles, and trismus (also known as “lockjaw”.)

Vaccine - For kids, tetanus immunization is part of the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis) vaccinations. They typically receive a series of four doses of DTaP vaccine before 2 years of age, followed by a booster dose at 4 to 6 years of age. After that, a booster (Tdap) is recommended at 11 to 12 years of age, and then a tetanus and diphtheria booster every 10 years through adulthood.

It may sound like a lot of scary information and if you lived 100 years ago it would be down right frightening. But thanks to the discovery of vaccines we no longer have to live in fear of many diseases as long as we get the proper inoculations. If you have any concerns that you are not fully vaccinated talk to your parents. It may be a good idea to print out this hot topic and use it as a reference next time you visit your doctor.