Back-to-School Vaccinations: A Parent’s Reminder for Teens
Medically reviewed by Heather Konrad, RN, quality care coordinator at Network Health
8/26/2025
For parents, August can feel like organized chaos. There’s the scavenger hunt for school supplies, last-minute runs for new shoes because somebody’s feet grew again and sports forms that somehow never get turned in on time.
In all that, it’s easy to forget about something less visible but just as important: making sure your kid is caught up on vaccines before the school year kicks into high gear. Vaccinations might be something you think about regularly when your children are babies, toddlers or even in their early years of elementary school. But as they get older and your concerns turn more toward driving lessons or school grades, it’s easy to forget that there are still vaccinations they need.
What Vaccines Teenagers Typically Need
Here’s what doctors usually recommend between ages 11 and 18.
- HPV vaccine. It stands for human papillomavirus. Most kids get this vaccine around 11 or 12. It’s not just “a teen vaccine.” It’s cancer prevention. It protects against cervical cancer in girls and throat cancers that affect both boys and girls. If you start at age 15 or later, teens may need three doses.
- Meningococcal vaccine. This one matters because meningitis can hit suddenly and be life-threatening. There are three vaccine types: MenACWY, MenB and MenABCWY. MenACWY is recommended around age 11–12, and then a booster at 16 (right when teens are starting to think about college). In some cases, a doctor may advise a child to receive the vaccine as early as 2 years of age.
- Tdap booster. This covers tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). The whooping cough part especially is no joke. It spreads easily, and even healthy teens can be stuck with a cough that lasts weeks. The vaccine is given starting at the age of 7, with a booster at age 11 or 12.
- Flu shot. Every year. Every fall. One kid brings it home from school and suddenly the whole family is down. Get this annually for everyone in the family.
[See what vaccines younger children need too…]
Why Are Vaccines Important for Teens?
Here’s the thing… vaccines aren’t just about your kid. They protect the people around them too, like grandparents, classmates with weaker immune systems or younger siblings who aren’t old enough for certain shots.
When your teen gets vaccinated, you’re not just crossing something off a list. You’re giving them a stronger start to the year… Fewer sick days, fewer frantic mornings rearranging your work schedule to pick up a sick kid and less worry about them passing something serious to someone they love.
[Adults need vaccines too… Here are four that are crucial for staying health.]
Don’t Know if Your Teen Is Up-To-Date on Their Vaccines?
If you aren’t sure if your teenager is up-to-date on their vaccines, don’t feel bad. It’s confusing. Call their doctor’s office and ask them to check the records. If you’re slammed for time, many local clinics and pharmacies can do the common vaccines, sometimes even without an appointment.
Back-to-school season is busy enough without extra sick days thrown into the mix. Getting your teen vaccinated is one of those behind-the-scenes things that doesn’t get a gold star or a photo on the first day of school, but it can make all the difference.
Once you’ve seen how fast illnesses travel through a classroom or a sports team, you’ll be glad you added vaccines to the back-to-school checklist.
Resources
https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/vaccines/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/vaccines/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mening/hcp/administering-vaccine.html
