Vaccination is the only medical intervention that has ever completely eliminated an illness in humans. As a result of vaccinations, smallpox no longer sickens anyone anywhere in the world. Many other diseases like polio, diphtheria, and tetanus that once sickened and killed millions of US children are so rare that most kids today will only learn about them from their history textbook. Because we’ve done so well with vaccines, some people think these diseases are gone forever. But that’s not true. To keep deadly and debilitating diseases at bay and keep kids healthy, we have to stay well immunized.

	Primary Vaccines (Ages 11-12) Primary vaccines are those that every adolescent should get at 11 or 12 years old, or as soon as possible if they’re over 12: Meningococcal (meningitis, blood infections) Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) Human papillomavirus (HPV)* Influenza (1 dose annually for all persons 6 months and older) * Routine for females; also available for males Primary Vaccines
	Catch-Up Vaccines “Catch-up” vaccines are for adolescents who did not get all their doses as infants: Hepatitis B Polio Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) Varicella (chickenpox) Catch-Up Vaccines
	Special Populations Two vaccines are recommended for certain adolescents at higher risk of disease or complications: Hepatitis A Pneumococcal (pneumonia, meningitis, blood infections) Special Populations

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Adolescents are at an increased risk for meningococcal disease (meningitis). Click the button below to watch a video Q&A with medical experts to learn more about meningococcal disease and how it can be prevented.