Attention: Parents of Adolescents

August is National Immunization Awareness Month

There are new vaccines available and recommended for adolescents.

We invite all parents of 11-18 year olds to schedule a check-up to talk about your child’s development, nutrition, safety, and vaccination status.

A new web site, www.cdc.gov/vaccines/preteen/ from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) provides educational materials about the vaccines and the diseases they prevent.

Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular Pertussis or whooping cough)

-Adolescents 11-18 years of age should receive a single shot of Tdap (and unprotected parents too!!)

-Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection with prolonged cough. If transmitted to infants it may be life threatening.

Meningococcal Vaccine

-Adolescents should receive one dose of this vaccine during their 11-12 year old check-up or when they enter high school or college

-Meningococcal infection is an extremely serious disease that can rapidly progress to meningitis, pneumonia, and death

Hepatitis A Vaccine

-2 dose series recommended for children age 1 yr and beyond

-Viral infection that causes fever, stomachache, malaise, decreased appetite, nausea, dark urine, and jaundice

Varicella (chicken pox) Vaccine

-A booster dose of varicella is now recommended if there is no history of infection.

Gardasil (Human Papilloma Virus or HPV Vaccine)

-3 dose series with 2^nd dose 2 months after first and 3^rd dose 6 months after first

-Vaccine is given to 11-26 year old females

-HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection responsible for the most common cause of cervical cancer

FluMist Flu Vaccine

-Live, effective nasal (no needles!) flu vaccine available starting in September for healthy non asthmatic adolescents

Because more vaccines are recommended for your (pre) teenager, please note that all vaccines will not be administered at once. Nurse visits may be recommended after the check-up to finish the series.

Ask your provider or nurse.

Effective 8/1/07, Town and Country Pediatrics will begin to charge a fee for camp/health forms. The initial form will be free of charge, however additional forms requested on an annual basis will incur a small fee. Please make a copy of the form for your records to avoid the fee.