Hop to it! : get up-to-date on adolescent immunization

SA-
H&OO .P8 SI
AS
2002-
TO I Get Up-To-Date
On
Adolescent Immunization
NAME OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDER:
Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Public Health Immunization Program

Common Questions About Adolescent Immunizations And Good Health
What Are Immunizations?
Immunizations, also called vaccinations
or shots, are a form of medicine made
to protect people against many diseases that can be prevented . These medicines are usually given by injection (shot). If your child or adolescent is not properly immunized and gets one of these diseases, it can lead to a severe illness that can cripple or even cause death.
Where Can My Child Be Immunized?
Call your doctor's office or local health care clinic to find out the time and place to get your child immunized.
When Do Children Become Adolescents? Adolescence marks the onset of
puberty and continues until reaching maturity. It usually begins around 9 to 12 years of age and continues through the teenage years . This is a great time to go to the doctor or health care clinic for a "catch-up" visit for a well check-up and review of immunization status.
How Do I Pay For Immunizations?
Many health insurance plans, including Medicaid and PeachCare, cover the cost of immunizations. If your health insurance plan does not cover immunizations, check to see if your health care provider offers the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. VFC is a federally funded program that provides vaccines to local doctors and health care clinics for children who meet required guidelines.

Why Do Adolescents Need To
Be Immunized?
Older children and teens don't outgrow the need to be immunized. Some may have missed vacc inations (i.e., Hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella) ear lier in life and need to
receive them now as part of a wel l check-
up. Many recent outbreaks of disease could have been avoided if teens and young adults had been properly immunized . As a parent, you need to keep your child 's mmunizations on track . Making sure that your child is properly immunized will provide protection from the following harmful diseases:

hepatitis B diphtheria tetanus (lockjaw) varicella zoster
(chickenpox)

measles mumps rubella
(German measles)

These diseases can result in breathing problems, lung, liver and bra in damage, hear t problems, bl indness, deafness, liver cancer and even death. Except for tetanus, these diseases are spread from person to person . All middle and high schools, colleges and trade schools requ ire students to be up-todate with their vaccinations.

Children with weakened immune systems or chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes, or people living with someone who has these problems, need to be up-todate on all of their immunizations. These children should also receive an influenza vaccine each year and a pneumococcal vaccine (PPV) .

Hepatitis A vaccine may be recommended for certain children . Check with your health care provider to see if your child is at risk for this disease .

What If My Child Misses Some
Of Her Immunizations?
You should never skip a scheduled immunization visit for your chil d . But if you do miss an immunization, yo u; doctor or health care clin ic can put your child on a "catch-up " schedule . Always keep an up-toda te immunization record for you r child . Ask your doctor or health care cli nic to review your child 's record at eac h visit and to tell you when her next vaccination is needed .
Are There Any Common Side EHects To Immunizations?
Yes, common side effects may include a slight fever
or redness, tenderness and swelling at the site of
vaccination for a day or two . These side effects are mild and may not appear with each immunization. You should discuss any health concerns you may have with your doctor or health care clinic staff.
If you feel your child has had an unusual or severe side effect to an immunization, contact your health care provider for immediate evaluation and attention; and request they file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) report at 1-800-822-7967.
Can My Child Be Immunized Even If He Is Sick?
A mino r illness should not prevent your child from being immunized . Consult with your doctor or health care clinic .
Are Immunizations Safe?
No vaccine is fully without risk. The risk of getting a disease by not being vacc ina ted is far greate r than the chance of problems fro m the vaccine itself. It is impor tant to remember that all vacc ines are tested many times to ensure they are safe for you r child .

DPH02 .47HW Form 3128 Rev. (1-2002)

How To

Keep

On

Co ntinue tQ..-...-. keep track of

Track!!! your child's

~

immunizations as she grows into a d ole scence.

Never miss a chance to get yo ur child

Always

immunized .

take your

child's immunization record with you when you visit yo ur

Keep
a :e~o~d of y?ur

doctor or health ( care clinic .

child s rrnrnuruzctions. Hav e your doctor
or nurse review and

Mark the date that

update it after each immunization.

your child's vacci-

nation is due and

stay on schedule

throughout middle

I school and high school.

Be . careful to

review all vac-

cine facts that you

Talk with your doctor or nurse about each vaccine . Don't be afraid to ask questions .

receive before your

child is immu-

nized.

Talking With Your Adolescent About His Immunizations.
Go over the information in this brochure with your adolescent. Involve them in the process. It is a chance for your child to take part in his own health care . Stress the following reasons that immun izations are important:
They protect your health. They protect your friends' and family's
health. You will need them for the rest of your life. They are required for middle school, high
school and college entrance. You may have missed some of your vacci-
nations as a baby and need to complete
them now.
Many child hood diseases, such as varicella (chickenpox) and mumps, can be quite severe for adolescents.

When To Immunize

Vaccine s are listed by the a ge and the age range that they ar e to be given.

Hep-B (Hepatitis B)
Each frog equals one dose.

DTaP/Td (Diphtheria , Tetanus a nd
Pertussis)

i Hib '
I(H.lnfluenzae I

i type b) i

'

,

Polio

Birth

MM R
(Measles,
Mumps and Rubella)

Varicella (Chickenpox)

Pneumococcal Conjugate
(PCV)

I Hepatitis
IA
I I I
I

Influenza

Birth-2 months"

1 Month

1-4 month s!









4 Months



6,10

12 Months 15-18 Months
4-6 Years 11-12 Years
13-18 Years

6-18 monthsI ,~

i









', 5_18 rnonths?"







6-18 months1
I

2-15 months':"



12-15 months I







This is a Td shot.

It does not

A ll teens need the pertussis

3 hepatitis B

voccine"

shots if they

ha ven ' t

alrea dy

received them.































A ll teens w ho have not received a seco nd
MMR should
do so.





121 8 month s!






A ll teens w ho
have not been ,I
:1 vaccinated or
w ho have not il
had chlckenpox d
need to be il

voccin oted ." ':

il



il
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i:
n
uu



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il

'I









10





! PPV 7, 10





2

years
adult









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(1) This is the age ra nge in which the vaccine should be given. (2) Depending an the brand of Hib ~acci ne used for the

first time. Children in this age groupwho havepreviously received influenza vaccine and personswho are 9 years of age

first and second doses, a dose at 6 months of age mayor may nat be needed. (3) May be given as early as 12 months of

and older need one dose yearly. (7) Children who are 2 years of age and alder and hove a high risk health problemmay

age ifsix months have passed since the last dose. (4 ) Td should be given at 1112 yea rs of age if five years hove passed

need thisoddifio nol type of pneumococcal vaccine IPpv) . (8) Minimum age far this dose is 6 calendar months. (9) The num-

since the last dose of tetanus. Future doses should be givenevery 10 years. (5) Children who are 12 mont" through 12 years

ber of doses needed depends on the age at the time of the nrst dose. This vaccine is nat cLITenllyrecommended far children

of age willneed to be vaccinated withone dose. Susceptible children 13 years and older need 2 doses. (6) Two doses of

5 years of ag e and older. (10) These vaccines may be recommended forchildrenliving in highrisk areas or who hove high

inactivated influenza vaccine are recommended for children aged 6 months to 9 years who are receiving thevaccine forthe

riskhealth problems. Checkwithyour healthcare provider regarding yourchild's need far these vaccines.

I

Check with your doctor or health core clinic with any questions about your immunization schedule. This schedule was adopted fro m the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule 2002, approved by The

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices lAc/PI, The American Academy of Pediptrics IM P), and The American Academy of Family Physicians IM FPJ.

Adolescents Need to Be Immunized Against These Diseases
ca uses liver damage, cancer or even death . You can also pass the disease on to others even though you may have no symptoms. It is spread through sex and by shari ng needles to use drugs , and shari ng needles to get tattoos or body piercings.
Diphtheria can cause severe breath ing and swallowing p r o b lems.
Tetanus (lockjaw) results when an ope n wo und becomes infected w ith tetanus germs, causing muscles to go into spasm. (Tetanus has the highest death rate of any di sease that can be prevented by vaccines .)
Measles causes high fever and rash. Problems may include middle ear infections , swelling of the brain and pneumon ia .
Rubella (German measles) causes swollen glands and a red rash. In a preg nant w oman it can cause damage to her unborn baby.
Mumps causes pa inful swelling of your cheeks and jaws . Problems include swelling of the brain or spinal cord membrane and possible deafness.
Varice lla zoster (chickenpox) causes blisters and itching . It can be very bad in infants, teens, adults and persons with weakened immune systems . Chickenpox can result in many problems such as pneumonia and infected skin blisters, or death .