Vaccines at 11 to 12 Years
CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 5 years of age and older to help protect against COVID-19.
What vaccines will my child get?
At 11-12 years old, your preteen should receive routinely recommended vaccines to protect them from the following diseases:
- Meningococcal disease (one dose of MenACWY vaccine)
- HPV (two doses of vaccine)
- Tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough (pertussis) (one dose of Tdap vaccine)
- Influenza (Flu) (one dose of vaccine every year)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 5 years of age and older to help protect against COVID-19 (two doses of vaccine). COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines may be given to your child on the same day.
Why does my child need vaccines now?
- To protect against infections that can make adolescents sick, including protection against infections where risk of exposure increases as adolescents get older
- To extend protection from childhood diseases, as protection from childhood vaccines wears off
When should my child be vaccinated?
A good time to get routine vaccines is during a yearly health checkup.
Your preteen can also get these vaccines at a physical exam required for sports, school, or camp. Ask the doctor or nurse every year if there are any vaccines that your child may need.
Children who are 5 years and older should get a COVID-19 vaccine. If your child has not gotten vaccinated yet, talk to their doctor about getting it as soon as possible.
Allergies: It is very important to tell the doctor or nurse if your child has any serious allergies, including allergies to yeast, latex, or chicken eggs, before they receive any shots.
After vaccination
After vaccination, your preteen might experience:
- Redness and soreness: Use a cool, damp cloth to help reduce redness, soreness and/or swelling at the injection site.
- Fainting after getting a shot: Although rare, fainting after any vaccine is more common among adolescents. Sitting or lying down when getting a shot and then for about 15 minutes after the shot can help prevent fainting.
Serious side effects are rare. To learn more about the possible side effects, read the Vaccine Information Sheet(s).
CDC, American Academy of Family Physicians and American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend children receive all vaccines according to the recommended vaccine schedule.
- Get a list of vaccines that your child may need based on age, health conditions, and other factors.
- Learn the reasons why you should follow the vaccine schedule.
