PVW 2015 Drop-in articles
These articles can be used in a variety of publications, such as community newspapers
and newsletters as well as in email messages and websites. They can be “dropped in”
as is, with no editing needed.
Immunize Your Preteens To Protect Their Health.
Parents can’t protect their children from everything harmful. But they can help protect
their kids from several deadly diseases. Vaccines protect their health, classmates, and
the community. Preteen vaccines guard against meningitis, Human papilloma virus
(HPV), whooping cough, flu and other dangerous diseases.
Preteen Vaccine Week is February 8-14, and the County of San Diego Health and
Human Services Agency encourages parents to make sure their preteens are
immunized against these serious diseases.
PVW is a part of Live Well San Diego, which is a countywide initiative to improve the
health and well-being of our community. One strategy for Live Well San Diego is to
Support Positive Choices. When people choose to get immunized against vaccinepreventable diseases, they build better health in their community, contributing to the
Live Well San Diego vision of a Healthy, Safe and Thriving San Diego County.
A focus of Preteen Vaccine Week 2015 is increasing immunization against Human
Papillomavirus (HPV). There are two types of HPV vaccine and both vaccines are highly
effective at preventing common types of HPV that can lead to cancer. So HPV vaccine
is cancer prevention.
Despite this effectiveness against infections that can lead to several types of cancers,
HPV vaccination rates remain low. A CDC survey indicated that only 46% of teen girls
and 17% of teen boys in California have received all three doses.
“Health care professionals and families need to work together to better protect preteens
from HPV and the cancers it causes later in life,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H,
County public health officer. “All preteens should be immunized against HPV and other
serious diseases.”
The continuing pertussis epidemic in San Diego, the state and across the U.S. is a
reminder that parents also need to have their preteens vaccinated with the whooping
cough booster shot, Tdap, to protect them against whooping cough. All incoming 7th
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graders are required to provide proof of immunization against whooping cough before
starting school.
Other immunizations recommended for preteens include the meningococcal vaccine,
and a second chickenpox shot. Everyone 6 months of age and older is also
recommended to receive an annual flu vaccine. Below is a checklist of needed preteen
vaccines:
Preteen (11-12 years old) Vaccine Checklist
 Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine— 3 dose series recommended for
girls and boys
 Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine- required for incoming 7th
graders
 Meningococcal vaccine
 Flu vaccine (every year)
 Any catch-up vaccines (e.g. 2nd dose of MMR [measles, mumps, rubella]
and chickenpox)
Parents should contact their doctor to schedule an appointment for needed vaccines.
Parents whose children do not have insurance can contact a County Public Health
Center (see a list of Centers here: http://tinyurl.com/ny6aegx) about low-cost vaccines.
For more information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent, visit www.sdiz.org,
www.GetImmunizedCA.org and www.ShotsforSchool.org. For true stories about people
whose lives were affected by vaccine-preventable diseases, visit www.shotbyshot.org.
(Source: California Dept. of Public Health Preteen Vaccine Week 2015 Campaign Kit at
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/immunize/Pages/PreteenVaccineWeek.aspx);
Make a Preteen Doctor Visit Appointment Today!
February 8-14 is Preteen Vaccine Week, and a great time to schedule preteen doctor visit! The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Society for Adolescent
Medicine recommend that all 11- and 12-year-olds get a preteen check-up.
All parents of 11- and 12-year-olds should make sure their children are up-to-date on recommended
immunizations during the preteen doctor visit.
This doctor’s visit is also a great opportunity for parents, preteens, and healthcare providers to discuss
the challenges of growing up, such as eating right, standing up to peer pressure, drugs and alcohol, and
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any other concerns. If your child has not yet had a preteen check-up, give them a healthy start as an
adolescent and make an appointment today!
For more information about preteen vaccines and the diseases they prevent, visit www.sdiz.org.
(Source: California Dept. of Public Health Preteen Vaccine Week 2015 Campaign Kit at
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/immunize/Pages/PreteenVaccineWeek.aspx )
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