The Montgomery County Commissioners have declared June to be Adolescent Immunization Awareness Month in Montgomery County. Many people think of vaccines as only for babies, but adolescents and preadolescents need them also. There are some diseases that are particularly devastating for this age group that can be prevented by vaccinating the adolescent. It is their turn to be protected, to be healthy, to be immunized.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that children 11 to 12 years of age (and older if they have not previously received these vaccines) receive:
1 dose of Meningococcal Vaccine (Menactra)
1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, and accellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)
A second dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, if not given previously
Annual influenza (flu) vaccine
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, 3 dose series for girls
The Tdap and meningococcal will be required for entry into seventh grade at the start of the 2010-2011 school year.
Meningococcal vaccine - meningitis is a very devastating disease. Seen and heard about in the high school and college age population, meningitis kills up to 10% of those infected usually within 48 hours and in spite of antibiotic treatment. Of the survivors up to 20% will have long-term disabilities, such as hearing loss, nervous system problems, brain damage, or loss of fingers, toes, feet or even loss of a leg. Meningitis disease can be prevented with one dose of vaccine.
Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria & pertussis) vaccine - tetanus was also known as lockjaw a long time ago. That old name gives a fitting description as all muscles tighten making it almost impossible to eat, speak or can also break bones. Diphtheria produces a fibrous membrane in air passages making breathing difficult or almost impossible. The big concern of this trio of diseases prevented by the Tdap vaccine is Pertussis. It is known that Pertussis is very dangerous for babies under one year of age who have not completed the primary series of DTaP. But the babies get the disease from someone else, usually a family member. Adolescents had the DTP vaccine as a baby, but the immunity has worn off and they are again susceptible to the disease. This is not as dangerous for the adolescent as their airways have grown larger as they grew. The disease seems like a bad cold with malaise and the cough that lasts for months. Pertussis can be prevented with one dose of vaccine.
Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine - some people think of chickenpox as a minor inconvenience. Chickenpox becomes more then an inconvenience when the adolescent or adult has the disease with any complications which could include one or more of the following or others: a secondary ear infection, skin infections, viral syndrome in the knees or any other joint, or pneumonia. Chickenpox can be prevented with two doses of a vaccine.
Influenza (flu) vaccine - you may hear “I don’t get the flu”? or “I’m young and healthy, I don’t need a flu shot", but when an adolescent gets the flu, it can hit them as fast and hard as anyone else. Adolescents also have been known to die from the flu. Adolescents need an annual flu shot just like children and their parents and grandparents.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine - is there any one who would not want to see a cure for cancer? Well if there isn’t a cure, why not one better, a way to prevent cancer. That is just what the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine does. This protects girls from the virus that causes cervical cancer.
