What vaccines are recommended for a healthy 16‑year‑old with no contraindications?

Recommended Vaccines for a Healthy 16-Year-Old

A healthy 16-year-old should receive a meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) booster dose if their first dose was given before age 16, and should complete the HPV vaccine series if not already up to date. 1

Core Vaccine Recommendations

Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MenACWY)

• Adolescents who received their first MenACWY dose before age 16 should receive a booster at age 16-18 years, administered at least 8 weeks after their first dose. 1
• If the first dose was received at or after age 16, no booster is needed. 1
• The quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine protects against serogroups A, C, W, and Y. 1

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

• All adolescents should be vaccinated against HPV if not already up to date. 1
• For those who initiated the series before age 15, a 2-dose schedule is sufficient (doses separated by 6-12 months). 2
• For those initiating at age 16 or later, a 3-dose schedule is required (0,1-2, and 6 months). 2
• In 2024,78.2% of adolescents had received ≥1 HPV dose, but only 62.9% were up to date with the series, indicating substantial room for improvement. 3

Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap)

• If not previously received, a single dose of Tdap should be administered. 1
• Most 16-year-olds will have already received Tdap at age 11-12 years; coverage reached 91.3% in 2024. 3

Additional Vaccines to Consider

Meningococcal Serogroup B (MenB) Vaccine

• Shared clinical decision-making is recommended for adolescents aged 16-23 years who are not at increased risk. 1
• MenB provides short-term protection against most strains of meningococcal B disease. 1
• This is administered as a 2-dose series, and the two available products (MenB-4C and MenB-FHbp) are not interchangeable. 1
• MenB can be given on the same day as MenACWY using different injection sites. 1

Annual Influenza Vaccine

• All adolescents should receive annual influenza vaccination. 1
• Only inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) should be used for routine adolescent vaccination. 1

COVID-19 Vaccine

• Adolescents should be up to date with COVID-19 vaccination according to current recommendations. 1
• This includes primary series and any recommended booster doses. 1

Catch-Up Vaccinations

Hepatitis B

• Verify completion of the 3-dose series; administer catch-up doses if incomplete. 1

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)

• Ensure 2 doses have been received; administer catch-up doses if needed. 1

Varicella

• Verify 2-dose series completion for those without documented immunity or disease history. 1

Hepatitis A

• A 2-dose series (separated by at least 6 months) should be completed if not already done. 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not assume all adolescents are up to date simply because they received childhood vaccines. Many adolescents miss the MenACWY booster at age 16 and remain incompletely vaccinated against HPV. 1, 3
• Do not delay HPV vaccination. Despite being recommended since 2006, HPV coverage lags significantly behind Tdap and MenACWY coverage, representing substantial missed opportunities for cancer prevention. 3, 2
• Review the complete vaccination history. Use every healthcare visit to assess vaccination status, as coverage varies substantially by geographic location and socioeconomic factors. 3, 4
• Remember that MenB vaccines are not interchangeable. Once a series is started with one product, it must be completed with the same product. 1