The preteen visit: An opportunity for prevention
Updated vaccine guidelines for different age groups; USPSTF recommendations for other interventions.
All early adolescents should visit a physician at age 11 or 12 years to receive a set of recommended vaccines. Two vaccines are recommended for boys in this age group—quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) and tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap). Three vaccines are recommended for girls—MCV4, Tdap, and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine.
In addition, 2 doses of varicella vaccine are now recommended before age 5 years; both boys and girls at age 11 or 12 who have received only 1 dose should be given a second. TABLE 1 contains details on each recommended vaccine.
TABLE 1
Vaccines recommended for early adolescents
| VACCINE | ROUTE | SCHEDULE | CONTRAINDICATIONS* | PRECAUTIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCV4 | IM | 1 dose | Moderate to severe illness | |
| Tdap | IM | 1 dose, may need other doses of Td to complete a tetanus and diphtheria series | Encephalopathy within 7 days of previous vaccine not attributed to other cause | Hypersensitivity with prior tetanus toxoid |
| Progressive neurological disorder | ||||
| Latex allergy | ||||
| Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks of a previous dose of tetanus toxoid | ||||
| Acute moderate to severe illness | ||||
| HPV | IM | 3 doses at months 0, 2, and 6 | History of hypersensitivity | Defer for moderate to severe illness to yeast |
| Varicella | SQ | 2 doses 3 months apart (1 month interval is acceptable) | Pregnancy | Moderate to severe illness |
| Severe suppression of cellular immunity | Receipt of antibody containing blood product in the preceding 11 months | |||
| Complete information for each vaccine can be located on the CDC web site at: www.cdc.gov/node.do/id/0900f3ec8005df1f. | ||||
| * All vaccines have as a contraindication a previous anaphylactic reaction to the vaccine or vaccine components. | ||||
| Details on contraindications can be found at: www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/contraindications_vacc.htm#var. | ||||
Meningococcal vaccine
Quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra) contains antigens for 4 meningococcal groups (A, C, Y, W-135), and is licensed for ages 11 to 55 years. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that all preteens receive 1 dose at age 11 or 12. Unvaccinated older children should receive a dose before entering high school; unvaccinated college freshmen living in dorms should also be vaccinated.
Because of a shortage of vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had recommended a delay in the implementation of routine vaccination at age 11 and 12. The supply situation has now corrected, and this recommendation has been rescinded.
There have been 17 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome appearing in adolescents and young adults within 33 days of receiving MCV4. The possibility of a cause-and-effect relationship is under investigation. The CDC recommends that preadolescents and adolescents who have a history of Guillain-Barré should not receive MCV4 unless they are college freshmen who live in dorms.
Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis vaccine
There are 2 Tdap products, one licensed for ages 10 to 18 years (Boostrix), the other for ages 11 to 64 (Adacel). The ACIP recommends a single dose of Tdap for those aged 11 to 18, preferably at age 11 or 12. The optimal interval from the last tetanus and diphtheria toxoid (TD or Td) is 5 years but a shorter interval is acceptable. Thereafter, Td boosters are recommended every 10 years. If an 11- or 12-year-old has not previously received a complete series of a tetanus toxoid, diphtheria product tetanus and diphtheria vaccines, they should be given the recommended number of doses—only one of which should be Tdap, the others Td. The number and timing of doses can be found at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr55e223a5.htm.
Human papilloma virus vaccine
The HPV vaccine (Gardasil) is licensed only for females aged 9 to 26 years, and is the first vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer. It protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18, which are the cause of approximately 80% of cervical cancers. The ACIP recommends routine administration for all females between ages 9 and 26, preferably before the onset of sexual activity. The vaccine requires 3 doses at months 0, 2, and 6; it can be administered concurrently with MCV4, Tdap, and Td.
Varicella vaccine
Two doses of varicella are now recommended for all children at ages 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years—the same as for the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR). A new MMRV product (Proquad) could reduce the number of injections needed at these ages.
Adolescents and adults who are not immune to varicella should receive 2 doses of vaccine 3 months apart, or 1 dose if they have been vaccinated with a single dose of varicella vaccine. Immunity to varicella is defined as birth in the US prior to 1980, 2 doses of varicella vaccine, or having had a diagnosed case of chickenpox or shingles.
Other interventions
This expanding list of recommended vaccines should create an incentive for parents to bring their preteen children to visit a physician. The American College of Physicians (ACP) recommendations are built on the assumption that these vaccines should be part of a routine preventive visit at this age group.
