What shots are recommended for adolescents now?

Monona County Public Health

Immunizations  

 

  • Tdap - When a child is age 11-12 years old, they should receive a one-time booster dose of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap). This pre-teen dose protects older children from pertussis as well as tetanus and diphtheria. This office gives Tdap to adolescents age 11 through age 18.
  • Meningococcal - This vaccine protects adolescents from a disease that can infect the brain and spinal cord causing meningitis. This dose is also recommended at age 11-12.  A booster dose is recommended 5 years after the first dose is given per the ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) as of November, 2010.
  • Hepatitis A - This vaccine is recommended for children and adolescents age 1-18. It is a 2-dose series with the 2nd dose given 6 months after the first dose. Hepatitis A is spread when someone eats food or drinks water contaminated wtih the virus or has close contact with a person who has the disease.
  • Hepatitis B - Hepatitis B is a virus of the liver that is spread by contact with blood or body fluids of a person who has the hepatitis B virus. Three doses of this vaccine are needed for protection against hepatitis B.  This office gives Hep B to children age birth through age 18.
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV) - HPV vaccine protects against the most common types of human papillomavirus, which are responsible for 70% of cervical cancer and 90% of genital warts. Both males and females are encouraged to get this 3-shot series of vaccine.  This office gives HPV to adolescents age 11 through age 18.
  • Influenza - Influenza is a highly contagious disease that affects the lungs. An annual vaccination is recommended due to the fact that the flu strains change each year, and the vaccine changes to match the current strains. You cannot get influenza from the vaccine.  Influenza vaccine is given to children and adolescents age 6 months through age 18 by this office.
  • MMR - Two doses of Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine are recommended for all children over the age of 4 years of age.
  • Varicella - Two doses of Varicella vaccine are now required for Kindergarten entrance. Any adolescents who have not had 2 doses and have not had the chicken pox disease are encouraged to get this vaccine. (The vaccine is not required if the adolescent has had the chicken pox disease.)

Remember to get a flu shot every flu season!
                                             
For information on the risks and benefits of  child and adolescent immunizations please click the following links to the Vaccine Information Statements issued by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention):

For Vaccine Information Statements in another language, go to www.immunize.org/vis/ and click on the language you want to view.    

                              

Monona County Public Health Immunization and Lead Screening Clinics are by appointment only.

We are pleased to announce that there are now three clinics in Monona County participating in the VFC (Vaccines for Children) Program.  These entities include Burgess Family Clinic in Mapleton, Monona County Public Health and on 4/30/2012, Family Medicine Clinic in Onawa became a VFC provider.  The VFC Program provides vaccines at no cost to children from birth through age 18 who are eligible for Medicaid, who do not have insurance, or their family insurance plan does not pay for vaccines.  All three VFC providers in the county do charge an administrative fee for the free vaccine, however, to uninsured or underinsured children. 

If you are a current patient of Burgess Family Clinic in Mapleton or Family Medicine Clinic in Onawa and meet the VFC criteria above,you should go to your provider to get immunizations and lead tests.  If your insurance plan pays for immunizations, you are still required to go to your doctor as always for vaccines, lead tests and any other medically necessary services.  We applaud Burgess Family Clinic and Family Medicine Clinic for promoting the "Medical Home" concept and hope this will increase our immunization rates county-wide.

You are still welcome to come to the Monona County Immunization and Lead Screening Clinics if you are not a patient of Burgess Family Clinic in Mapleton or Family Medicine Clinic in Onawa. 

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT OR FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL:

What to do if your child experiences 
discomfort after receiving immuniztaions 

Why does a baby need so many shots?

  • Babies need different shots to protect them from numerous vaccine preventable diseases including diphtheria, tetanus, pertusis, polio, red measles, mumps, rubella, hib disease, rotavirus, pneumococcal, chicken pox and hepatitis A and B.
  • Babies need immunizations early and often to build up their immune systems.
  • Keep in mind that a baby's immune system can handle many vaccines at one visit without being overloaded, and the sooner a baby is protected by immunizations, the better.
  • Babies should receive vaccines at the following ages during the first two years of life:

            * Birth Hepatitis B is usually 
                           received in the hospital at 
                           birth.

            * 2 months - DTaP, Hepatitus B, Hib,
                                    Polio, Pneumococcal,
                                    Rotavirus 

                                                                     
            
* 4 months - DTaP, Hib, Polio, Pneu-
                                   mococcal, Rotavirus

            * 6 months - DTaP, Hepatitus B, Hib,
                                    Polio, Pneumococcal,
                                    Rotavirus, Influenza

            * 12-24 months - DTaP, Hep A, Hib, 
                                    MMR, Pneumococcal,
                                    Varicella (chicken pox)
                                   

 

Shots Recommended at
age 4-5:

Any time after a child's 4th birthday, they may receive the booster immunizations needed for Kindergarten entrance. Many preschools and daycare centers urge parents to get their children up to date as soon as they turn age 4. Vaccines needed at this age include:
DTaP #5 - Diphtheria, Tetanus and 
                     
Pertussis
IPV #4 - Polio 
MMR #2 - Measles, Mumps, Rubella  
Varicella #2 - Varicella (chicken pox)