What vaccines does a 14-year-old need?

Recommended Vaccines for a 14-Year-Old

A 14-year-old should receive the Tdap vaccine, meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, and annual influenza vaccine as core adolescent immunizations, along with any catch-up vaccines they may have missed during childhood. 1

Core Adolescent Vaccines

Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)

• One dose of Tdap is recommended at age 11-12 years
• If not received previously, should be administered at age 14
• Provides protection against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough)
• After Tdap, Td boosters are recommended every 10 years 1, 2

Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV4)

• First dose recommended at age 11-12 years
• Second dose recommended at age 16 years
• If first dose not yet received, should be given at age 14
• Protects against meningococcal disease which can cause meningitis and bloodstream infections 1, 2

HPV Vaccine

• Recommended for both males and females
• If started before age 15: 2-dose series (doses separated by 6-12 months)
• If started at age 15 or older: 3-dose series (0,1-2,6 months)
• Protects against HPV infections that can lead to certain cancers and genital warts 1

Influenza Vaccine

• Recommended annually for all adolescents
• Particularly important for those with chronic medical conditions like asthma
• Can be given as inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) or live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) for healthy adolescents 1

Catch-Up Vaccinations

If the 14-year-old has not previously received or completed these vaccine series, they should receive:

MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)

• Should have received 2 doses, with second dose typically given at age 4-6 years
• If not completed, doses should be separated by at least 4 weeks 1, 2

Hepatitis B

• Should have completed the 3-dose series in childhood
• If not completed, should finish the series
• A 2-dose series of Recombivax HB is licensed for adolescents aged 11-15 years 1

Varicella (Chickenpox)

• Should have received 2 doses, with second dose typically given at age 4-6 years
• If no history of chickenpox disease and not previously vaccinated, should receive 2 doses separated by at least 3 months 1, 2

Hepatitis A

• If not previously received, should complete the 2-dose series
• Doses should be administered at least 6 months apart 2

Administration Considerations

• All indicated vaccines can be administered during the same visit using separate syringes at different anatomic sites
• Simultaneous administration of multiple vaccines is safe and effective, with no interference between routinely recommended vaccines
• Administering all indicated vaccines during a single visit increases the likelihood of completing all recommended vaccines 1

Special Considerations

• Adolescents with certain immunocompromising conditions (e.g., complement component deficiencies, asplenia) may need additional meningococcal vaccine doses
• Immunocompromised adolescents may have different vaccination requirements, with some live vaccines (like MMR and varicella) potentially contraindicated depending on the level of immunosuppression 1

Documentation

All administered vaccines should be documented in the adolescent's immunization record to ensure proper tracking of vaccination status and to avoid unnecessary revaccination 1.