Skip Navigation

Vaccinations for Preteens & Teens

Community Health
Friday, August 11, 2017

Wisconsin Requires Tdap Booster and Other Vaccines for Preteens & Teens

As you are making your back-to-school checklist for your preteen, making sure your child has all of the vaccines that are required and recommended for their age is essential. Vaccines protect your child from a number of serious diseases, including cancers caused by HPV (human papillomavirus). And the State of Wisconsin requires a Tdap booster for school entry by the 30th day of 6th grade.

Fort HealthCare School Nurse (Lake Mills), Toni Zastrow, urges, “I want to remind parents of the importance of getting your son or daughter vaccinated before they come back to school this fall. You should be scheduling your child’s appointment with their primary care provider soon to ensure they are up-to-date on vaccines they need.”

Zastrow adds, “Both boys and girls should receive three doses of HPV vaccine to protect against serious diseases. Your preteen should receive the second dose a month or two after the first dose, and the third dose six months after the first dose.”

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommend preteen children receive the following vaccines:

  • One dose of Tdap vaccine is required for preteens as they enter 6th grade to continue providing protection against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).
  • Quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine is recommended for preteens at the age of 11 or 12 for protection against bacteria that cause meningococcal disease. A second dose is recommended for teens at age 16.
  • HPV vaccine is recommended for preteens age 11 or 12 to protect against cancers and other diseases caused by HPV infection.
  • Preteens and teens should also get the flu vaccine every year, ideally as soon as the vaccine is available.

To learn more about the state immunization requirements, visit: immunize.org/laws/. To learn more about adolescent vaccines, visit the CDC’s Vaccines for Preteens and Teens website at cdc.gov/vaccines/teens.

Zastrow adds, “Protect your preteen and talk with your child’s clinician about what vaccines they need. You may also contact your district’s school nurse or office administration with any questions.”

The Fort HealthCare School Nurse Program is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our k-12 schools in nine districts. Serving over 13,000 students, it is our goal to keep children as healthy as possible, as well as supporting the schools’ collective goals to meet both academics and overall health, and to deliver personalized care, improving student attendance and paving the way for academic success. For more information, visit FortHealthCare.com/SchoolNurse.