Pre-teens Need Vaccines, Too

As kids get older, protection provided by some childhood vaccines can begin to wear off. Kids can also develop risks for more diseases as they get older. Help your child transition into adolescence in a healthy way by staying up-to-date on pre-teen vaccines.

Common Questions about Pre-teen Vaccines

Which vaccines do pre-teens need? Doctors recommend that all 11 and 12 year olds get the Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines. 11- and 12-year-old girls should also get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

When should pre-teens be vaccinated? Pre-teens can receive all of these vaccines during their 11- or 12-year-old check-up. If your child missed that check-up, ask your child’s doctor about getting the vaccines now.

Are these vaccines safe and effective? All of these vaccines have been widely studied and are safe and effective. Pre-teens may experience mild side effects such as redness and soreness where they get the injection (in the arm). These vaccines are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Can I get help paying for vaccines? For families with health insurance, all or most of the cost of vaccines is usually covered. Children age 18 and younger may be eligible for free vaccines through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program if they are Medicaid eligible; uninsured; or American Indian or Alaska Native. Doctors can charge a fee to give each shot. However VFC vaccines cannot be denied to an eligible child if the family cannot afford the fee.

Additional Information

• To learn more about the Tdap, Meningococcal, and HPV vaccines, download

• "Information for Parents about Pre-teen Vaccines" Color version ( 1 page, 577 KB) Black and white version ( 1 page, 555 KB).

• In Spanish, " Información para los padres acerca del chequeo médico de los preadolescentes " Color version ( 1 page, 713 KB) Black & white version ( 1 page, 711 KB).

• For more information about pre-teen vaccines, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/preteen/

• For more information about the Vaccines for Children program, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/