Pediatricians have a unique opportunity to influence adolescents and their families by helping young people build a strong foundation of good health that will continue into their adult lives - American Academy of Pediatrics.

Adolescent Vaccine Recommendations and Guidance

Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) vaccine

• AAP Policy on Adolescent Pertussis Vaccine
  
• AAP News article (including Q & A's) by Sara Long, MD, FAAP, COID
• AAP implementation Guidance on the Tdap vaccine (i.e., coding, reimbursement, etc.)

Meningococcal (MCV4) vaccine

• AAP Policy on Meningococcal Vaccine
• AAP Implementation Guidance on the meningococcal vaccine
• Meningococcal Vaccine Resources
  • Vaccine Information Sheet on Meningococcal Vaccine
  • CDC Meningococcal Disease and Vaccine Fact Sheet
  • Revised AAP Meningococcal Disease Brochure
  • For additional disease information from the CDC, click here.
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome Information
  • CDC and FDA Issue Alert on Menactra Meningococcal Vaccine and Guillain-Barré Syndrome
  • Click here to view additional information from Sanofi Pastuer.
  • MMWR article: "Guillain-Barré Syndrome Among Recipients of Menactra® Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine - United States, June - July 2005" (Exit Site)
  • AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases statement, Guillain-Barré Cases Among Recipients of Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine: Interim Guidance for Physicians (Exit Site)
  • At this time, no changes have been made to the recommendations for immunization. Any cases of GBS following administration of the vaccine should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System at 800/822-7967.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

• AAP Provisional Recommendations (6/4/07)
• Vaccine Implementation Guidance (6/7/07)
• Frequently Asked Questions (1/25/07)
• CDC Information Page (Exit Site)

Strategies to Increase Adolescent Immunization Coverage
Link to resources, presentations, and articles on adolescent immunization challenges and strategies to improve coverage rates.

• Immunization of Adolescents: Making Coalitions Part of the Solution by Daniel B. Fishbein, MD, NIP/CDC (PDF 507KB)
  This presentation provides a general overview of the changes in disease epidemiology, including cases and deaths potentially prevented by vaccines for adolescents; new adolescent vaccines and vaccines in development; and adolescent immunization coverage and variation by state. (October 2005)

• Adolescent Vaccination: Bridging from a Strong Childhood Foundation to a Healthy Adulthood (PDF 1600KB)
  This report, developed by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and based on proceedings of a roundtable convened in April 2004, features strategies to increase adolescent immunization coverage. Denia Varrasso, MD, FAAP, AAP Council on Community Pediatrics, Immunization Subcommittee and CISP Project Advisory Committee member participated at the meeting. (April 2004)

• Special Article: "Make Vaccinations Part of Your Patient’s Back to School Shopping List This Year," by Daniel Fishbein, MD (September 2005)

• Recommendations Regarding Interventions to Improve Vaccination Coverage in Children, Adolescents and Adults by the Task Force on Community Preventive Services (April 2003).

• Vaccine Preventable Diseases: Improving Coverage in Children, Adolescents, and Adults - Economic Evidence Table. (Exit Site) From the "Guide to Community Preventive Services."

Adolescent Immunization Resources
Link to resources and organizations involved in establishing the adolescent vaccine platform to decrease vaccine-related morbidity and mortality.

• Find out more about the illnesses that adolescents should be immunized against- especially meningitis, pertussis, and human papillomavirus.
• 2007 Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule and Catch-up Schedule
• Summary of Recommendations for Childhood and Adolescent Immunization (Exit Site)
• Adolescent Immunization Screening Tool
  Developed by the Immunization Action Coalition, this screening tool reminds persons 11-19 years old of the need to be vaccinated to protect against disease.

AAP Committee on Adolescence (Exit Site)
The Committee on Adolescence addresses the special health care needs of adolescents and promotes the pediatrician as their optimal source of health care.

AAP Council on School Health (Exit Site)
The AAP Section and the Committee on School Health have combined to form the Council on School Health.

CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health (Exit Site)
Locate information on a variety of school health topics, including school health profiles.