What vaccines does a 12-year-old need?

Recommended Vaccines for a 12-Year-Old

A 12-year-old should receive the Tdap vaccine, meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY), and HPV vaccine series as part of their routine immunization schedule. 1

Core Vaccines Recommended at Age 12

Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap)

• Administer at age 11-12 years as a single dose to those who have completed their childhood DTP/DTaP vaccination series 1
• This serves as a booster to maintain protection against tetanus and diphtheria while providing protection against pertussis 1
• The preferred age for Tdap vaccination is 11-12 years to reduce morbidity associated with pertussis in adolescents 1

Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MenACWY)

• Administer at age 11-12 years as a single dose 1
• Provides protection against meningococcal disease caused by serogroups A, C, W, and Y 2
• A booster dose will be needed at age 16 years 2

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

• Administer the first dose at age 11-12 years 1
• Follow with a second dose 2 months after the first dose and a third dose 6 months after the first dose 1
• HPV vaccination helps prevent HPV-associated cancers 2
• As of 2019, vaccination coverage with ≥1 dose of HPV vaccine was 71.5%, and 54.2% of adolescents were up to date with the HPV vaccination series 2

Additional Vaccines to Consider

Influenza Vaccine

• Administer annually to all adolescents 1
• Only trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) should be used for immunocompromised persons 1
• For healthy adolescents, either live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) or TIV may be used 1

Catch-Up Vaccines (if not previously received)

• Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine:

  • Should be administered if the adolescent has not been vaccinated and does not have a reliable history of chickenpox 1
  • For susceptible persons ≥13 years of age, two doses separated by 4-8 weeks are recommended 1

• Hepatitis A Vaccine:

  • If not previously vaccinated, administer 2 doses at least 6 months apart 1

• Hepatitis B Vaccine:

  • Complete the 3-dose series if not previously vaccinated 3

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella):

  • Ensure the adolescent has received 2 doses 1, 3

Important Considerations

Simultaneous Administration

• All indicated vaccines can and should be administered during the same visit to increase the likelihood that adolescents receive each vaccine on schedule 1
• Each vaccine should be administered using a separate syringe at a different anatomic site 1
• Some experts recommend administering no more than two injections per muscle, separated by at least one inch 1

Special Populations

• Adolescents with chronic health conditions (asthma, diabetes, etc.) should receive annual influenza vaccination 1
• Immunocompromised adolescents may need adjusted vaccination schedules and should only receive inactivated vaccines when alternatives exist 1

Vaccination Coverage

• Despite recommendations, vaccination coverage varies widely among states 3
• As of 2019, coverage rates were 88.9% for ≥1 dose of MenACWY and 71.5% for ≥1 dose of HPV vaccine 2
• Providers should use every health-care visit as an opportunity to review adolescents' immunization histories 4

Potential Barriers

• The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine vaccination services, with decreased vaccine orders observed for Tdap, HPV, and MenACWY vaccines in 2020 2
• Ensuring that routine immunization services for adolescents are maintained is essential for continuing protection against vaccine-preventable diseases 2