HHS HealthBeat (September 23, 2010)

Teen shots

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

A look at vaccination rates finds teenagers are doing better at getting their shots. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says coverage increased in 2009 for three types of shots.

There are separate vaccinations for meningitis and human papillomavirus. And there is a combination shot for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.

The report says some vaccinations were more common than others, and teens in some areas were more likely to get vaccinations than teens in other areas. The CDC’s Christina Dorell:

"They should get those vaccines. And parents can contact their child’s doctor and review what vaccines are missing. Missing vaccines should be given as catch-up vaccines." (9 seconds)

The study is in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: November 21, 2011