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Vaccines protect your body from dangerous and possibly deadly diseases.

What are vaccines?

Cause: Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is caused by bacteria that enters your body through cuts, scratches, or wounds. It is not spread person-to-person. Diphtheria and pertussis, also known as whooping cough, are caused by bacteria spread person-to-person by coughs and sneezes
Symptoms: Muscle stiffness, difficulty opening mouth, swallowing, breathing, and uncontrollable coughing. These diseases can last weeks or months, causing people to miss school or other activities.
How to protect: Get vaccinated. You need the Tdap vaccine when you are 11-12 years old to help protect you from these diseases.
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Cause: Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection. Bacteria are spread from person-to-person through the exchange of saliva (spit), coughs, and sneezes.
Symptoms: Confusion, fatigue (feeling very tired), fever and chills, nausea, rapid breathing, headache, and stiff neck.
How to protect: Get vaccinated. You need the first dose when you are 11-12 years old. When you are 16 years old, you will need a booster shot.
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Cause: HPV is a group of viruses that commonly affects preteens and teens.
Symptoms: The virus can be spread during any type of sexual contact. HPV can be spread even when an infected person has no signs or symptoms.
How to protect: Get vaccinated. The HVP vaccine can be given as early as age 9. You need two shots of the vaccine when you are 11-12 years old. If you have certain health conditions or start the vaccine series at 15 years of age or older, you will need three doses. It’s important that you get all doses in the series so that you are fully protected.
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Cause: Flu is a highly contagious (easily spread) respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs.
Symptoms: Fever, headache, fatigue (feeling very tired), body/muscle aches, runny/stuffy nose, sore throat, and cough.
How to protect: Get vaccinated. Everyone 6 months old or older should get a flu shot every year.
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Cause: COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV2, a coronavirus discovered in 2019.
Symptoms: fever, chills, shortness of breath, fatigue (feeling very tired), headache, and body/muscle aches. COVID-19 can be a minor illness in some or lead to severe disease or even death in previously healthy people.
How to protect: Get vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from serious illness, even if you were infected with COVID-19 in the past. You need a COVID-19 vaccine as recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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When you are 11-12 years old, you will need the Tdap, MenACWY, and HPV vaccines.
When you are 16 years old, you will need another meningococcal ACWY vaccine as a booster.
Everyone should receive a flu vaccine every year and COVID-19 vaccine or booster as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
You may need other vaccines to stay healthy, especially if you are traveling. This tip sheet can help make sure you are up to date with all your vaccinations.

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