Recommended vaccines for adolescent patients.

Vaccination is a safe and effective tool in the prevention of serious and deadly infectious diseases. The vaccinations delivered at routine adolescent visits are an integral part of preventing infection, as well as reducing school absenteeism as a result of illness. Current recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices include vaccinating during a single visit at age 11 or 12 years against pathogens including Neisseria meningitidis, which has been shown to cause invasive meningococcal infections; Bordetella pertussis, which has been shown to cause pertussis (whooping cough); and human papillomavirus, which has been shown to cause cervical cancer and genital warts. Additionally, annual influenza vaccination is recommended for adolescents without contraindications to the vaccine. In the present article, the authors summarize current recommendations for adolescent vaccines and their formulations, the infections that they prevent, contraindications to administration, vaccination rates, and the most commonly reported adverse events.