Shots recommended to protect preteens

As children approach their teen years, parents often worry about how to protect them from new risks and potential dangers. Trinity County Health & Human Services has provided the following helpful information:

Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a campaign to educate parents about one of the things they can do to protect their children at 11 and 12 years of age and for years to come: make sure they are vaccinated against serious, sometimes life-threatening diseases such as meningitis, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and cervical cancer.

Immunity from some childhood vaccines can decrease over time, so people need to get another dose of the vaccine during their preteen years. Also, as children move into adolescence, they are at greater risk of catching certain diseases, like meningitis.

Three vaccines are recommended for preteen vaccination. They include MCV4, which protects against meningitis and its complications; Tdap, which is a booster against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis or "whooping cough"; and for girls, HPV vaccine, which protects against the types of human papillomavirus that most commonly cause cervical cancer.

A new Web site, www.cdc. gov/vaccines/preteen/, provides easy-to-understand materials for parents about the vaccines and the disease they prevent. Preteens may also be eligible for a free health exam through the Child Health & Disability Prevention Program; for eligibility and referral information, call 623- 8210. Preteen vaccines are offered free through Trinity County Health & Human Services. Call 623-8209 for appointments.