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Vaccines at 13 to 18 Years						Español (Spanish)							Print
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										13 to 18 year old kids

Vaccinations are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages.


CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older. If your child has not gotten vaccinated yet, talk to his or her doctor about getting it as soon as possible.
Vaccines your teen should get
Your child is now a busy teenager hitting exciting new milestones and showing more independence. But as a parent, you still want to make sure they’re healthy and safe. That’s why it’s still important to make sure they stay on track with vaccinations.
Your teen should receive vaccines to help protect against the following diseases:Influenza (Flu)
	Yearly
Flu is a respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Flu spreads easily and can cause serious illness, especially in children younger than 5 years and children of any age with certain chronic conditions including asthma. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every year ideally by the end of October.
**See Related:**Flu vaccinationMeningococcal disease (MenACWY)
	**2nd dose of 2**
Meningococcal disease can refer to any illness caused by a type of bacteria called *Neisseria meningitidis.*These bacteria can cause meningococcal meningitis or bloodstream infections, which can be serious, even deadly. The meningococcal vaccine called MenACWY helps protect against four types of the bacteria that causes meningococcal disease (serogroups A, C, W, and Y).
**
**See Related:**Meningococcal vaccinationMeningococcal disease (MenB)
	**2 doses**
Meningococcal disease can refer to any illness caused by a type of bacteria called *Neisseria meningitidis.*These bacteria can cause meningococcal meningitis and bloodstream infections, which can be serious, even deadly. Meningococcal B vaccine, or MenB vaccine, helps protect against one type of the bacteria that causes meningococcal disease (serogroup B).
**Note:** CDC does not routinely recommend MenB vaccine for all adolescents. Instead, healthcare providers and parents can discuss the risk of the disease and weigh the risks and benefits of vaccination.
**See Related:**Meningococcal vaccinationMeningococcal disease (MenABCWY)
	**1 dose**
Meningococcal disease can refer to any illness caused by a type of bacteria called *Neisseria meningitidis.*These bacteria can cause meningococcal meningitis and bloodstream infections, which can be serious, even deadly. Pentavalent meningococcal vaccine, or MenABCWY vaccine, helps protect against five types of the bacteria that causes meningococcal disease (serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y).
**Note:**MenABCWY vaccine can be given instead of MenACWY and MenB vaccines when both of those vaccines are being given at the same visit. MenABCWY is not given in addition to those two vaccines.
**See Related:** Meningococcal vaccinationVaccines your child may have missed
Now is a good time to catch up on any missed vaccines. Make an appointment if your teen needs vaccines for any of the following diseases:
Chickenpox (varicella)
Hepatitis A (HepA)
Hepatitis B (HepB)
HPV
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
Meningococcal disease (MenACWY)
Polio (IPV)
Tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough (pertussis) (Tdap)Vaccines and travel
Traveling internationally is a great opportunity for many teens. But some locations require vaccinations. Be sure to find out vaccine recommendations and requirements for the travel destination.
Start preparing at least four to six weeks before the trip so your child has enough time to complete any necessary vaccine series and build up immunity.Vaccines for college
Before your child enters college, a technical school, or university, check that his or her vaccinations are up to date. These include childhood, preteen, and teen vaccinations.
Protect against meningococcal diseaseRisk for meningococcal disease in college students is slightly higher than the risk in other teens and young adults who are not attending college. Two vaccines help protect against meningococcal disease.**Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine:**
This vaccine helps protect against four types of the bacteria that causes meningococcal disease: serogroups A, C, W, and Y.
Many states recommend and several states require that some college students receive MenACWY vaccination.
CDC routinely recommends MenACWY vaccination at 11-12 years old, with a booster dose at 16.
CDC also recommends MenACWY vaccination for first-year college students living in residence halls who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated.**Serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccine:**
This vaccine helps protect against one type of the bacteria that causes meningococcal disease: serogroup B.
College campuses have reported outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease in recent years.
CDC routinely recommends MenB vaccination for people at increased risk during serogroup B meningococcal disease outbreaks.
CDC also recommends that teens may get a MenB vaccine, preferably at 16 through 18 years old. The decision to get this vaccine should be based on a discussion between the parent(s) and the healthcare provider.**Pentavalent meningococcal (MenABCWY) vaccine:**
This vaccine helps protect against five types of the bacteria that causes meningococcal disease: serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y.
This vaccine can be used when someone is planning to get MenACWY and MenB vaccines at the same visit.After a vaccination
Sometimes people have mild reactions from vaccines, called side effects. After your child gets a vaccination, some people, including preteens, might experience the following:
**Redness and soreness**: Placing a cool, damp cloth on the vaccinated area to help reduce redness and/or soreness where the shot was given.
**Fainting after getting a shot**: Fainting after any vaccine is more common among adolescents. Sitting or lying down when getting a shot and then for about 15 minutes after the shot, can help prevent fainting.**Serious side effects are rare.** To learn more about the possible side effects, read the Vaccine Information Sheet(s).
**Call 911** if you think your child might be having a severe **allergic reaction** after leaving the vaccination site.
What vaccines does my child need?Follow the vaccine scheduleSee which vaccines your child needs to stay on-track with routine vaccinations.
Birth to 6 years
7 to 18 yearsGet a personalized listTake a short quiz to get a list of vaccines your child may need based on their age, health conditions, and other factors.
Child vaccine quizMore InformationTravel and Vaccines
Keeping Track of Vaccine Records
The Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program
HPV Vaccine is Safe
Six reasons to get HPV vaccine for your child
Preteens, Teens Need Meningococcal Vaccine
Meningococcal Vaccination for Preteens and Teens: Questions and Answers
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  August 17, 2023						Source: 	National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
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