What vaccines are recommended for a 16-year-old individual?

Recommended Vaccines for a 16-Year-Old

A 16-year-old should receive a MenACWY booster dose (if the first dose was given at ages 11-15), annual influenza vaccine, and catch-up HPV vaccine if not previously completed; MenB vaccine may also be offered based on shared clinical decision-making. 1

Core Vaccines Required at Age 16

Meningococcal ACWY Booster

• Adolescents who received their first MenACWY dose at ages 11-12 years must receive a booster at age 16 years (at least 8 weeks after the first dose). 1
• If the first MenACWY dose was given at ages 13-15 years, the booster should be administered at ages 16-18 years (at least 8 weeks or up to 5 years after the first dose). 1
• If the first MenACWY dose is given at or after age 16, no booster is needed. 1
• This booster is critical because meningococcal disease risk increases during adolescence, particularly for college-bound students living in residence halls. 2

Annual Influenza Vaccine

• All 16-year-olds should receive annual influenza vaccination. 1
• This should be administered each fall/winter season regardless of previous vaccination history. 1

Tdap Verification

• Verify that Tdap booster was completed (typically given at ages 11-12 years). 1
• If not previously administered, give Tdap now. 1

HPV Vaccination Catch-Up

For Females

• HPV vaccine (2vHPV, 4vHPV, or 9vHPV) is recommended in a 3-dose series for females aged 13-26 years if not previously vaccinated. 2
• The second dose should be administered 4-8 weeks after the first dose; the third dose should be administered 24 weeks after the first dose and 16 weeks after the second dose. 2

For Males

• HPV vaccine (4vHPV or 9vHPV) is recommended in a 3-dose series for males aged 13-21 years if not previously vaccinated. 2
• Males aged 16 years who have not completed the series should receive catch-up vaccination. 2

Optional Meningococcal B Vaccine (Shared Clinical Decision-Making)

General Population

• Adolescents aged 16-18 years may receive MenB vaccine to provide short-term protection against serogroup B meningococcal disease (Category B recommendation—may be administered based on individual clinical decision). 1
• The preferred age range for this optional vaccination is 16-18 years. 1
• Two products are available: MenB-4C (Bexsero, 2 doses) or MenB-FHbp (Trumenba, 2-3 doses); these products are not interchangeable once the series is started. 1
• MenB and MenACWY can be administered during the same visit using different injection sites. 3

High-Risk Populations Requiring MenB (Not Optional)

• MenB vaccine series is mandatory for 16-year-olds with:
  • Persistent complement component deficiencies (C3, C5-9, properdin, factors D or H) 1
  • Anatomical or functional asplenia 1
  • Patients taking complement inhibitors (e.g., eculizumab) 1
  • Microbiologists routinely exposed to Neisseria meningitidis 1
  • Those at increased risk due to a serogroup B outbreak 1
• These high-risk patients should have received a 2-dose primary MenACWY series and require boosters every 5 years. 1

Practical Administration Guidelines

Simultaneous Administration

• All vaccines for which the adolescent is eligible can be administered simultaneously without spacing requirements, as all are inactivated vaccines. 3
• Each vaccine should be given at a different anatomical site, preferably in different limbs. 3
• Simultaneous administration increases vaccination coverage by reducing missed opportunities and clinic visits. 3

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not delay any vaccine unnecessarily—there is no medical reason to separate these vaccines. 3
• The 4-week spacing rule applies only between live vaccines, not between inactivated vaccines. 3
• Ensure proper documentation of all vaccines administered to maintain accurate immunization records. 3

Special Considerations

HIV-Infected Adolescents

• HIV-infected adolescents should receive a 2-dose primary MenACWY series (at least 2 months apart). 1

College-Bound Students

• First-year college students aged ≤21 years living in residence halls should receive a single dose of MenACWY if they have not received a dose on or after their 16th birthday. 2