It’s their turn!
Pre-teens need vaccines too!

Image 1:  Group of smiling pre-teens
Image 2:  Pre-teen boy holding a clock
Image 3:  Mother holding her pre-teen daughter
Image 4:  Pre-teen male wearing a helmet and riding a bike
Image 5:  Pre-teen female smiling wearing pink shirt

Why should my child receive the meningitis and whooping cough vaccines?
All children should be protected against serious diseases. The CDC recommends
that 11 and 12 year olds receive the MCV4 vaccine to protect against meningococcal
disease (meningitis) and the Tdap vaccine to protect against pertussis 
(whooping cough), diphtheria, and tetanus.

Are these diseases really harmful to my child?
Yes. Meningococcal infection can be very serious, even deadly. The disease can 
become deadly fast, sometimes in 48 hours or less. Even with antibiotic treatment, 
adolescents die in about 10% of cases.  About 20% of survivors will have long-term disability, 
such as loss of a limb, deafness, nervous system problems, or brain damage. 

Whooping cough (pertussis) causes coughing fits that can be so 
severe that adolescents can miss school or be unable to participate in sports or 
other social activities. Parents may also have to miss work in order to take 
care of a sick child.

I thought my child was already vaccinated against whooping cough 
(pertussis) . . . 
Protection from some childhood vaccines can wear off. 
The immunity from childhood vaccination against pertussis 
does not last into the adolescent years. A booster shot will help your 
child to continue to be protected against pertussis. 

What other vaccines are recommended for adolescents?
There are three vaccines recommended for adolescents. Tdap protects against 
pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, and diphtheria; MCV4 protects against
meningococcal disease (meningitis), and the human papillomavirus (HPV) 
vaccine for girls protects against cervical cancer. Adolescents might 
also need other vaccinations. Ask your doctor about vaccinations 
your child may have missed. 

Are the vaccines safe?
Yes. The recommended vaccines are safe and effective. Before any vaccine is 
licensed and made available to the public, it must be extensively studied and 
the FDA must approve it as safe and effective. These vaccines are also recommended
by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, 
and the Society for Adolescent Medicine. 

How much do these vaccines cost?
For families with health insurance, all or most of the cost is usually 
covered. Children age 18 and younger may be eligible to get the vaccines free 
through the Vaccines for Children program (VFC) if they are Medicaid eligible, 
uninsured, American Indian or Alaska Native. Parents can find a
VFC provider by contacting their local health department. 

For More Information
Please visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines  or call 1-800-CDC-INFO.











This document can be found on the CDC website at:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/preteens-adol/prof-matls/f-faq.txt