Adolescent vaccination plays a crucial role in safeguarding health during the teenage years and well into adulthood. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that all adolescents aged 11 to 12 receive the tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap), along with the quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The HPV vaccine series can be initiated as early as age 9.
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A booster dose of MenACWY is advised at age 16 to ensure ongoing protection. Based on shared clinical decision-making, adolescents may also receive the COVID-19 vaccine, while those between 16 and 23 years old can consider the serogroup B meningococcal vaccine (MenB). In addition, an annual influenza vaccination remains a key recommendation, along with catching up on any missed childhood immunizations.
Since 2023, ACIP has allowed the use of the pentavalent meningococcal vaccine (MenABCWY) for cases when both MenACWY and MenB are recommended at the same visit. However, due to limited available data, this report focuses on 2024 vaccination coverage for Tdap, MenACWY, HPV, and MenB (excluding influenza, COVID-19, and MenABCWY).
Data from the National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen) for 2024 highlights coverage rates and compares them to 2023, showing how uptake of recommended adolescent vaccines is evolving. These trends provide valuable insights for healthcare providers and policymakers seeking to close gaps in vaccine protection for teens.