Vaccines keep healthy teens healthy. Did you know that your kids need shots when they begin their teen years? Starting at around 11 or 12 years old, kids need three vaccines. And it’s not too late for your older teenagers who didn’t get these vaccines at 11 or 12 years old. They can get them at their next doctor/clinic visit.
Tdap
The Tdap vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (also known as whooping cough). Kids also get vaccinated against these same diseases when they are younger and they need the Tdap vaccine to boost their protection against these diseases. It’s important for teens (and adults too!) to be vaccinated against pertussis, not only to protect themselves, but to prevent spreading it to babies who are too young to be vaccinated.
Meningococcal
The meningococcal vaccine protects against dangerous brain and blood infections. These illnesses are not very common, but they are very serious when they happen. People can lose their arms or legs, have brain damage, or die. One of the most likely times for people to get meningococcal infections is between the ages of 15 and 24. Teens need meningococcal vaccine at 11 or 12 years and a booster at 16 years.
HPV
The HPV vaccine protects against two types of human papillomavirus that cause most cervical cancer and other kinds of cancer. One of the HPV vaccines also protects against genital warts. Boys and girls need three doses of HPV vaccine when they are 11 to 12 years old.
How and Where
Your child can get these vaccines at the same time, and they can be given at any doctor visit. If your child’s school has a health clinic, vaccines may be available there too. Your local health department may also have these vaccines. Many people can get vaccines for free or for a low cost. Ask about this at the doctor’s office.
More Information
For more information about vaccines, ask your doctor or local health department. You can also get information about vaccines for adolescents on the Minnesota Department of Health website at http://www.health.state.mn.us/immunize.
Teens and Preteens need shots too!
Latest from Blog
Amhara Exclusion in Ethiopia: A Deep Dive into the Political Landscape
The political marginalization of the Amhara people in the Horn of Africa can be largely traced to the strategic actions of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Oromo People’s Party
With Jawar’s Political Conversion Oro-Mara 2.0 Can be Boy-King Abiy’s Graveyard
Yonas Biru, PhD Two things rattle the Boy-King’s confidence in maintaining the levers of power. But his opponents are oblivious. For those who care to listen, he has publicly announced what he
Justice for Christian Tadele Tsegaye: A Call to the International Community
Christian Tadele Tsegaye, a leading opposition figure and spokesperson for the National Movement of Amhara (NaMA), has become a victim of severe political persecution under the regime of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Can Ethiopia Change Course and Save Itself from the Devastating Outcomes of Ethnic Politics: Proliferation of Conflict, Underdevelopment, and Slide into Mass Poverty
An October 2024 United Nations Development Program (UNDP) report on Ethiopia paints a country gripped by dire multidimensional poverty crisis, afflicting a substantial portion of the population. The UNDP assigns a multidimensional
A demon by the Bank of the Blue Nile River
By Aschalew kebede Abebe The Triangular Entanglement It had been more than a century since the foundation of the conspiracy theory had lain down. It had begun when Theodore Herzl proposed to
Ethiopian Soccer Stadium Transformed into Artillery Site Amid Amhara War
Zecharias Zelalem Special to The Globe and Mail Published December 19, 2024 Soldiers with the Ethiopian National Defence Force travel on a truck near Aykel, in the Amhara region, on Feb. 27.MICHELE SPATARI/Getty
Jawar’s Interview with BBC Undermines His Project to Rebrand His Image
Yonas Biru, PhD For nearly half a century, Oromo and Tigray tribal intellectuals have been and continue to be the curse of Ethiopia. Over the last six years, Amhara tribal intellectuals have
The administration of Abiy Ahmed is utilizing starvation as a tactic of warfare, which amounts to a war crime
( The Habesha ) The administration of Abiy Ahmed is utilizing starvation as a tactic of warfare, which amounts to a violation of international law and constitutes a war crime. This strategy
Ethiopia on the brink of new conflicts: Macron’s visit and secret agreements to support Sudanese rebels
On 21 December, French President Emmanuel Macron will arrive in Ethiopia to meet with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Together they will inaugurate the National Palace, the last residence of Emperor Haile Selassie
US Ambassador Calls for Ethiopia to Address Human Rights Abuses in Governance
Beth Van Schaack, the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, has called upon Ethiopian authorities to take decisive action by removing officials, including military personnel, who are implicated in human rights violations
The Fall of Assad and Russia’s Strategic Dilemma: Shifting from Syria to Libya”
December 18, 2024 Caleb T (Dr.) Russia’s military presence in Syria, once a cornerstone of its strategy in the Middle East, faces significant uncertainty as the Syrian conflict evolves. Recent developments, including
Urgent Humanitarian Crisis in Amhara: Addressing Essential Needs Amidst Ongoing Violence
( The Habesha ) The situation in Ethiopia’s Amhara region requires immediate international focus. The government led by Abiy Ahmed is perpetrating war crimes, employing tactics such as starvation and continuous drone
The African Auschwitz Version of the Amara – Ethiopia!
Yinegal Belachew The Polish city Auschwitz is known for the service it had given to the Nazis during the slaughtering by Hitlerians of the Jews. Despite the number of Jews massacred then
Ethiopia’s New Banking Legislation: A Double-Edged Sword for Domestic Banks
The recent banking legislation in Ethiopia signifies a major transformation in the nation’s financial sector, aiming to remove long-standing barriers that have restricted foreign banks from participating in the local market. This
Fano: The Unsung Heroes of Ethiopia’s Fight for Freedom
What is the Fano Movement? The Fano movement represents a collective of Ethiopian fighters, largely composed of young people, farmers, and rural militias. These fighters have historically resisted both foreign invasions and