Will your child be 13 years old before school starts this fall? Get prepared by scheduling a wellness appointment to be sure your child is current with vaccinations.

What if my child is behind? that’s okay!

What vaccinations should I focus on for this next school year?

There are three:

1. Meningococcal – one dose is needed
   Meningococcal disease can cause meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and infection of the blood.
2. Diphtheria/ Tetanus/ Pertussis, commonly known as Tdap – one booster dose is needed
   Diphtheria can lead to difficulty breathing, heart failure, paralysis, or death. Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough,” can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing that makes it hard to breathe, eat, or drink. Diphtheria and pertussis spread from person to person. Tetanus causes painful stiffening of the muscles and enters the body through cuts or open skin.
3. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) series- 2 doses needed
   HPV infections can cause certain types of cancers and is spread through intimate skin-to-skin or sexual contact. The HPV vaccine can prevent over 90% of cancers caused by HPV.

I am concerned, will my child have a reaction?

Vaccine reactions are mild and often resolve on their own. This is a sign that our body is building a healthy immune response to protect us from disease. Common reactions may include: injection site soreness, redness, or swelling, mild fever, headache, muscle or joint pain, nausea, loss of appetite, and fatigue.