Vaccines for NC Preteens and Teens
Vaccines recommended for ages 7 to 18 help prevent disease and associated health problems like:
- Muscle paralysis
- Brain damage
- Infertility
- Blindness
- Cancer
Certain vaccines are required for school and college.
Children 18 or younger can get no-cost vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program.
Ensure your teen is up to date and protected
Need an immunization appointment? Contact your health care provider. Don't have a provider? Check with your local health department.
| Vaccine | Protects against | Recommended age | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meningococcal Vaccine | Meningococcal disease | Age 11 or 12 for first dose | |
| Tdap Vaccine | Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) | Age 11 or 12 | It's a slightly different version of a vaccine your child received as a baby (DTaP). |
| HPV Vaccine | Human papillomavirus | Two doses between ages 9-12 *Three doses if first dose isn't given until age 15 | Protects both males and females against some virus strains. They cause over 90% of cervical, penile, anal, mouth and throat cancers, and genital warts. |
| Influenza (flu) | Influenza (flu) | Every year, starting at age 6 months | The AAP and CDC recommend the flu shot for everyone 6 months and older, including teens. |
| COVID-19 | COVID-19 | At least 1 dose of the current COVID-19 vaccine | The COVID-19 vaccination is the best way to protect teens from long-term problems if they get sick with COVID-19. |
Find flu and COVID-19 vaccines near you
CDC Recommended Immunization Schedule for Ages 7-18
Parent Resource Guide: Vaccines for Your Children (CDC)
Need to catch up on other vaccines?
Your child may have missed recommended vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a good time to catch up on other recommended immunizations:
- Hepatitis A and B
- Polio
- Pneumococcal vaccines
- Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
- Chickenpox (varicella)
Immunization requirements for school entry
Your child's immunization records are checked when they enter seventh grade and again for college:
- Check K-12 immunization requirements for the vaccinations required to start seventh grade.
- Check college/university immunization requirements now so your teen can get caught up before college starts.
This page was last modified on 03/04/2025