Adolescent immunization: challenges and opportunities.

Immunization is one of the greatest public health achievements of the past century. Vaccines are responsible for the worldwide eradication of smallpox, the elimination of polio in the western hemisphere, and most recently the elimination of rubella as a public health threat in the United States. Childhood vaccination rates are at an all-time high, but immunization falls off dramatically during adolescence (ages 11-19). With increased attention being paid to adolescent health and the new vaccines available for adolescents, efforts to increase adolescent immunization rates are moving to the forefront. Improving adolescent immunization rates requires advocacy on the part of all health professionals. School nurses, whose mission is to enhance the well-being of adolescents, are in a unique position to work with students, parents, and local health professionals to improve the adolescent immunization rate.