Your Teens & Young Adults May Not Be Protected
Your child may not have received all of their recommended vaccines. UNITY™ Consortium can help address some of your concerns
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Every year, 2.5 million people around the world die from vaccine-preventable diseases. And adolescents are at risk for many of these serious diseases. While we get many important vaccines as infants, there are a few vaccines that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends for adolescents:
- Tdap -- Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (whooping cough): Receive a Tdap vaccine between the ages of 11-12. Regular boosters of Td vaccine are recommended every 10 years to protect those at risk.
- Meningococcal ACWY: Receive a meningococcal ACWY vaccine at 11-12 years of age with a booster dose between 16 and 18 years.
- Meningococcal B: Receive meningococcal serogroup B vaccine doses at 16-18 years old. Discuss this vaccine with your healthcare provider.
- HPV (Human papillomavirus): The vaccine is most effective at preventing associated cancers for both boys and girls when given during preteen years, starting at 9 years old.
- Flu: Flu season typically starts in October and the virus can mutate each year. Annual vaccination is recommended.
- COVID-19: All adolescents 12 years and older should receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for adolescents 12 and older.
In addition, you should ask your healthcare provider if you are up-to-date on other recommended vaccines which are usually given at younger ages, including:
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Chickenpox
- Polio
- Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
- Pneumococcal disease
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Tdap protects against tetanus (T), diphtheria (D), and pertussis (aP). Diphtheria and pertussis spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through cuts or wounds. Tetanus causes painful stiffening of the muscles. It can lead to serious health problems, including being unable to open the mouth, having trouble swallowing and breathing, or death. Diphtheria (D) can lead to difficulty breathing, heart failure, paralysis, or death. Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough,” can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing which makes it hard to breathe, eat, or drink.
There are two recommended vaccines to protect against meningococcal disease. Meningococcal ACWY vaccine helps protect against meningococcal disease caused by serogroups A, C, W, and Y. The Meningococcal B vaccine protects against serogroup B. Meningococcal disease can cause meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and infections of the blood. Even when it is treated, meningococcal disease kills 10 to 15 infected people out of 100. And of those who survive, about 10 to 20 out of every 100 will suffer disabilities such as hearing loss, brain damage, kidney damage, loss of limbs, nervous system problems, or severe scars from skin grafts. Adolescents and young adults ages 16-23 are at increased risk of meningococcal disease.
The HPV vaccine protects against infections caused by some types of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV infection can cause certain types of cancer, including cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers in women, penile cancer in men and anal cancers in both men and women. The HPV vaccine prevents infection from the HPV types that cause over 90% of these cancers.
Flu is a contagious disease that spreads around the U.S every year, usually between October and May. Everyone should get the flu vaccine (unless excluded for medical reasons), and people with certain health conditions or a weakened immune system are at the greatest risk of flu complications. Each year thousands of people in the United States die from flu, and many more are hospitalized. Flu vaccine prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related visits to the healthcare provider each year.
After a year of harassment, here’s how I deal with Antivaxxers…and where I come out on my vaccination beliefs and advocacy.
Ethan Lindenberger: My Experience with Antivaxxers and Why I Continue to Advocate for Vaccination
Protect & Connect Fact Sheet: Details on recommended adoleslescent vaccines and illnesses they protect.
Protect & Connect Fact Sheet
All About HPV Vaccination. Dr. Paul Offit of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia talks about the value of HPV vaccine in cancer prevention
Paul Offit, MD soundbite: Value of vaccines
UNITY Resources
Vaccines are safe. In the U.S., we have many safeguards in place to ensure that the vaccines we receive are held to very high safety standards. Vaccines are thoroughly studied through a series of clinical trials before they are made available for public use.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. The COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. They met the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization (EUA). Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines since they were authorized for emergency use by the FDA. These vaccines have undergone and will continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history.
Ethan Lindenberger Blog: COVID-19, an infection without a vaccine. Now is the time to make sure you are vaccinated against all preventable diseases to avoid succumbing to an illness that is preventable.
Ethan Lindenberger: How to Prevent the Next Pandemic
Separating Fact from Fiction. Vaccine Advocate Ethan Lindenberger and Dr. Laura Offutt discuss how and where to find reliable sources of vaccine information on the internet
Ethan Lindenberger: Separating Fact from Fiction
UNITY Resources
Contact your health care professional to learn about their recommendation for which vaccines your teen should get. Examples of reliable sources for health information include the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Immunization Action Coalition, and the sites of leading research hospitals, such as the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center.
Ethan Lindenberger Blog: COVID-19, an infection without a vaccine. Now is the time to make sure you are vaccinated against all preventable diseases to avoid succumbing to an illness that is preventable.
Ethan Lindenberger: How to Prevent the Next Pandemic
UNITY Resources
Millions of people in the U.S. have received the COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.
Since May 10, 2021, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for adolescents ages 12+. This COVID-19 vaccine is proven to be safe and effective at protecting adolescents from COVID-19 disease.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is administered with two shots, scheduled at least three weeks apart. While the vaccine does involve needles, most people report that it doesn’t hurt. Some people have reported arm soreness at the injection site, but that soreness generally goes away quickly.
After COVID-19 vaccination, your teen may have some side effects. These are normal signs that your body is building protection. The side effects from COVID-19 vaccination, such as tiredness, headache, or chills, may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.
It typically takes 2 weeks after vaccination for the body to build protection (immunity) against the virus that causes COVID-19. You are not fully vaccinated until 2 weeks after the second dose of a 2-dose vaccine or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine.
Vaccines are widely accessible in the U.S. at many healthcare provider locations, including doctors' offices, pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics, for everyone 12 years and older at no cost.
To find a COVID-19 Vaccine, search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.
This demo demonstrates a healthcare provider using the three Cs – Consistent, Confident, and Concise – to recommend a MenB Vaccine using motivational interviewing techniques to a 18YO adolescent.
Three Cs Demo: 18 YO Acceptance of MenB Vaccine
This demo demonstrates a healthcare provider using the three Cs – Consistent, Confident, and Concise – to recommend a MenB Vaccine and MenACWY vaccine using motivational interviewing techniques to a 16 YO adolescent and their mother. Patient and mother are accepting of both vaccines.
Three Cs Demo: 16YO and Mom Acceptance of MenACWY and MenB Vaccines
This demo demonstrates a healthcare provider using the three Cs- Consistent, Confident, and Concise- to recommend a MenB Vaccine and MenACWY vaccine using motivational interviewing techniques to a 16 YO adolescent and their mother. Patient and mother are accepting of MenACWY vaccine, but hesitant to accept MenB vaccine.
Three Cs Demo: 16 YO and Mom Acceptance of MenACWY Vaccine and Hesitant of MenB Vaccine
Scenarios demonstrate HCP Consistent, Confident, Concise Recommendations of MenACWY and MenB (shared clinical decision making) vaccines with varying levels of acceptance, using motivational interviewing techniques that engage the parent and teen.
Three Cs Demo: Healthcare Provider Vaccine Recommendations
UNITY Resources
Many doctors' offices, pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics offer recommended adolescent vaccines including COVID-19 vaccines. Your doctor's office or local pharmacy may contact you with information about their vaccination plans.
Your teen can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines at the same visit, according to the CDC.
To find a COVID-19 Vaccine, search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.
This demo demonstrates a healthcare provider using the three Cs – Consistent, Confident, and Concise – to recommend a MenB Vaccine using motivational interviewing techniques to a 18YO adolescent.
Three Cs Demo: 18 YO Acceptance of MenB Vaccine
This demo demonstrates a healthcare provider using the three Cs – Consistent, Confident, and Concise – to recommend a MenB Vaccine and MenACWY vaccine using motivational interviewing techniques to a 16 YO adolescent and their mother. Patient and mother are accepting of both vaccines.
Three Cs Demo: 16YO and Mom Acceptance of MenACWY and MenB Vaccines
This demo demonstrates a healthcare provider using the three Cs- Consistent, Confident, and Concise- to recommend a MenB Vaccine and MenACWY vaccine using motivational interviewing techniques to a 16 YO adolescent and their mother. Patient and mother are accepting of MenACWY vaccine, but hesitant to accept MenB vaccine.
Three Cs Demo: 16 YO and Mom Acceptance of MenACWY Vaccine and Hesitant of MenB Vaccine
Scenarios demonstrate HCP Consistent, Confident, Concise Recommendations of MenACWY and MenB (shared clinical decision making) vaccines with varying levels of acceptance, using motivational interviewing techniques that engage the parent and teen.
Three Cs Demo: Healthcare Provider Vaccine Recommendations
UNITY Resources
They should be vaccinated regardless of whether they already had COVID-19. That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if they have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible—although rare—that they could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again. Studies have shown that vaccination provides a strong boost in protection in people who have recovered from COVID-19.
If you have any questions or concerns about getting the vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider.
This demo demonstrates a healthcare provider using the three Cs – Consistent, Confident, and Concise – to recommend a MenB Vaccine using motivational interviewing techniques to a 18YO adolescent.
Three Cs Demo: 18 YO Acceptance of MenB Vaccine
This demo demonstrates a healthcare provider using the three Cs – Consistent, Confident, and Concise – to recommend a MenB Vaccine and MenACWY vaccine using motivational interviewing techniques to a 16 YO adolescent and their mother. Patient and mother are accepting of both vaccines.
Three Cs Demo: 16YO and Mom Acceptance of MenACWY and MenB Vaccines
This demo demonstrates a healthcare provider using the three Cs- Consistent, Confident, and Concise- to recommend a MenB Vaccine and MenACWY vaccine using motivational interviewing techniques to a 16 YO adolescent and their mother. Patient and mother are accepting of MenACWY vaccine, but hesitant to accept MenB vaccine.
Three Cs Demo: 16 YO and Mom Acceptance of MenACWY Vaccine and Hesitant of MenB Vaccine
Scenarios demonstrate HCP Consistent, Confident, Concise Recommendations of MenACWY and MenB (shared clinical decision making) vaccines with varying levels of acceptance, using motivational interviewing techniques that engage the parent and teen.
Three Cs Demo: Healthcare Provider Vaccine Recommendations
UNITY Resources
There is no charge to you for the COVID-19 vaccine. The federal government is providing COVID-19 vaccines free of charge to all people living in the United States, regardless of their immigration or health insurance status.
This demo demonstrates a healthcare provider using the three Cs – Consistent, Confident, and Concise – to recommend a MenB Vaccine using motivational interviewing techniques to a 18YO adolescent.
Three Cs Demo: 18 YO Acceptance of MenB Vaccine
This demo demonstrates a healthcare provider using the three Cs – Consistent, Confident, and Concise – to recommend a MenB Vaccine and MenACWY vaccine using motivational interviewing techniques to a 16 YO adolescent and their mother. Patient and mother are accepting of both vaccines.
Three Cs Demo: 16YO and Mom Acceptance of MenACWY and MenB Vaccines
This demo demonstrates a healthcare provider using the three Cs- Consistent, Confident, and Concise- to recommend a MenB Vaccine and MenACWY vaccine using motivational interviewing techniques to a 16 YO adolescent and their mother. Patient and mother are accepting of MenACWY vaccine, but hesitant to accept MenB vaccine.
Three Cs Demo: 16 YO and Mom Acceptance of MenACWY Vaccine and Hesitant of MenB Vaccine
Scenarios demonstrate HCP Consistent, Confident, Concise Recommendations of MenACWY and MenB (shared clinical decision making) vaccines with varying levels of acceptance, using motivational interviewing techniques that engage the parent and teen.
Three Cs Demo: Healthcare Provider Vaccine Recommendations
UNITY Resources
You can empower your teen/young adult about health topics in many ways like having open and active conversations, being sympathetic, providing the facts, keeping your composure, and stress safety. Talk about your appreciation of your teens taking an active role in their own healthcare.
After a year of harassment, here’s how I deal with Antivaxxers…and where I come out on my vaccination beliefs and advocacy.
Ethan Lindenberger: My Experience with Antivaxxers and Why I Continue to Advocate for Vaccination
Raising Awareness of Teen Vaccines Needed: Protection is a Snap.
Protection is a Snap (Spanish Version Available)
Raising Awareness of Teen Vaccines Needed: Protect Your Self(ie).
Protect Yourself(ie) (Spanish Version Available)
Teen advocate shares how telling stories and encouraging young voices can help counter vaccine misinformation and promote preventive health through immunization
