Adolescents should not be neglected! Which vaccines should adolescent children receive?

Vaccines are one of the most effective ways to prevent serious diseases in children and adults. Yeditepe University Hospitals Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emine Manolya Kara emphasizes that thanks to vaccination, many diseases are no longer seen, and this is one of the greatest achievements in our history of immunization.

Vaccines That Should Be Administered During Adolescence

Vaccines during the adolescent period are of great importance for an individual to have a healthy adulthood:

Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (dTap) Vaccine: Should be administered as a single dose between the ages of 10-12. Considering the increasing frequency of pertussis, this vaccine provides additional protection.

HPV Vaccine: It is recommended for both girls and boys starting from the age of 9. It provides protection against cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases.

Meningococcal Vaccine: Provides immunity against serious diseases such as meningitis.

Flu Vaccine: It is recommended that adolescents, especially those in risk groups, get vaccinated every year.

Importance for Public Health

Vaccines protect not only the individual but also society.

Vaccinated individuals prevent the spread of diseases by also protecting those who do not have immunity.

Due to anti-vaccination sentiments, forgotten diseases (such as measles and pertussis) are re-emerging.

Vaccines Do Not Make People Sick

Vaccines are developed to prepare the immune system against diseases. Unlike viruses or bacteria, they do not make people sick; on the contrary, they protect them from serious infections.

Vaccines during adolescence are of great importance for both individual and public health. For a healthy future, vaccination should not be neglected.