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The CDC, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) jointly issue a child and teen vaccine schedule each year. Then the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reviews the schedule to make sure it agrees with new vaccine developments and policies. ACIP then publishes it each year. Before a vaccine can become part of routine medical practice, 3 things must happen:

• The FDA must license the vaccine
• ACIP and the Committee on Infectious Diseases of the AAP and AAFP must recommend the vaccine for use
• The vaccine must be available to children who do not have private health insurance

A booster for this vaccine is called Tdap. It is given at ages 11 to 12. A teen who missed this booster should get it. Protection against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus starts to fade over time, so adults need a booster shot every 10 years. If an adult hasn't been vaccinated for pertussis before, they should get the Tdap. The they should get either a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) or Tdap vaccine every 10 years. Vaccines are important for pregnant teens or teens who babysit young babies. Because of the risk of tetanus, this vaccine is also important if a teen wants to get a body piercing or tattoo.

The Hib vaccine routinely given to prevent serious illness in children provides protection against only 1 type of meningitis. This meningitis is caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib). The vaccine does not protect against any other type of meningitis. This includes meningococcal or pneumococcal meningitis or viral meningitis.

Meningitis strikes people of all ages, from babies to elderly adults. But meningococcal meningitis poses the greatest risk to high school and college students, particularly freshmen living in dormitories. Others at risk are:

• U.S. military recruits
• People traveling to countries that have an outbreak of meningococcal disease
• People who might have been exposed to meningitis during an outbreak

Teens should receive the "catch-up" chickenpox (varicella) vaccine if they missed it as a child. In childhood, the vaccine is routinely given in 2 doses. The first one is given at ages 12 to 15 months. The second one is given ages 4 to 6 years.

The risk for hepatitis A increases with certain lifestyles. This includes males who have sex with males or transgender women, and people who use illegal drugs. The risk also goes up for people in certain jobs. These include health care or laboratory workers who come in contact with the hepatitis A virus. People who travel to countries where hepatitis A is common are also at risk. Anyone at increased risk should get the vaccine. Teens with clotting-factor disorders or chronic liver disease should also get the vaccine.

The hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended by ACIP for all adolescents. It is particularly important if your teen wants to get a body piercing or tattoo.

Teens are just as likely to get the flu as children or adults. Teens are less at risk for complications of the flu because they are generally healthy with a strong immune system. People at highest risk for complications are very young children, elderly adults, and anyone with a chronic health problem such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease. But even healthy people can have severe complications from the flu. The CDC strongly recommends a yearly flu shot for everyone older than 6 months through adulthood.

Most vaccines are given as a shot. The flu vaccine can sometimes also be given as a nasal spray in health, nonpregnant people ages 2 through 19 years. The typhoid vaccine is given by mouth. Other vaccines are given by shot.

Most children get the second MMR around ages 4 to 6 years, when they start school. But some children miss getting that second MMR and must make it up at the beginning of high school. This will help protect against getting all 3 of these diseases. Rubella, the “R” in MMR, can cause severe health problems in the developing fetus. Requiring teens to get a second MMR if needed makes sure they are completely protected against rubella. When a young woman later gets pregnant, rubella will not cause problems for her developing child.

The HPV vaccine is strongly advised for both boys and girls, usually between ages 11 and 12, but as young as 9. But it is not required. The CDC also recommends the vaccine for teens and young adults up to age 26 who were not vaccinated at a younger age. The vaccine protects against genital warts and several types of cancer. People between ages 27 and 45 who are at risk may also get the vaccine after talking with their healthcare provider.