Vaccines protect your body from dangerous and possibly deadly diseases.

(Courtesy of Immunize For Good)

Vaccines protect you from serious and life-threatening diseases. As you get older, some of the vaccinations you received as a child begin to wear off. The best solution to keep you protected are booster shots. Changes in your behavior increase your exposure to certain diseases. Vaccines also protect the people around you who are not able to get vaccinated. To learn the top 10 reasons why you should get vaccinated, click here.

In addition to routine vaccinations, always follow proper hand hygiene, masking as recommended, and staying home when feeling ill.

• When you are 11-12 years old, you will need the Tdap, meningococcal ACWY and HPV vaccines.
• When you are 16 years old, you will need another meningococcal ACWY vaccine as a booster.
• You need a flu vaccine every year.
• You may need other vaccines to stay healthy, especially if you are traveling. For more information, click here.

What is COVID-19?  

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV2, a new coronavirus discovered in 2019. COVID-19 can be a minor illness in some or lead to severe disease or even death in previously healthy people. This means, everyone should take the virus seriously! Prevention is key. Vaccination is an important step in helping to prevent this illness and its potentially devastating consequences. 

What are common symptoms of COVID-19?

Some people who are infected may not have symptoms. People who have symptoms may experience fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, headaches, and new loss of taste and smell.

How do people get COVID-19?

The virus is spread mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.

Sometimes people can get COVID-19 more easily if the virus mutates (changes). Viruses changes cause new variations of the virus. Sometimes these variants can allow the virus to spread more easily and may be harder to stop.

How can COVID-19 be prevented?

COVID-19 vaccines help protect your body against COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and highly effective at preventing you from getting sick.

CDC recommends everyone 6 months of age and older stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

• Everyone 5 years and older is recommended to receive the new bivalent COVID-19 booster dose. The bivalent booster protects against both the original COVID-19 strain as well as the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants
• COVID-19 vaccines are free of charge to all people in the United States, regardless of insurance or immigration status.

Why is COVID-19 vaccine especially important for youth?

Getting children vaccinated can:

• Protect children from severe disease, hospitalization, or death
• Prevent the spread of  COVID-19 and protect those who are unable to receive the vaccine
• Allow children to safely participate in sports, playdates, and other group activities
• Help prevent future health problems caused by COVID-19 infection
• Can provide added protection even if you already had COVID-19 disease

Where can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Find a COVID-19 Vaccine Location Near You: COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Finder

You may also reach the NJ COVID-19 Vaccination Call Center at 1-855-568-0545 for help.

PLEASE NOTE: Those under 18 years must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian to be vaccinated.

NJ Facts

For the latest updates on NJ’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage, check out the NJ Vaccination Tracker Dashboard.

Find a COVID-19 Vaccine Location Near You: COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Finder

(Courtesy of CDC)

(Courtesy of CDC)

What diseases does the Tdap vaccine prevent?

Tdap vaccine protects you against three diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).

• TETANUS (tet-a-nus), also known as lockjaw, is caused by bacteria that enters your body through cuts, scratches, or wounds. It is not spread person-to-person. Tetanus causes painful muscle tightening and stiffness; you might not be able to open your mouth, swallow, or even breathe. For more information, click here.
• DIPHTHERIA (dif-THEER-ee-a) is caused by bacteria and is spread person-to-person when an infected person coughs and sneezes.  It causes a thick coating to form in the back of your throat and can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, and death. For more information, click here.
• PERTUSSIS (per-TUS-iss), also known as whooping cough, is caused by highly contagious bacteria that is easily spread from person-to-person when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It causes rapid, uncontrollable coughing fits that can cause you to vomit, break ribs or have difficulty breathing and sleeping. For more information, click here. Hear what a cough from someone with pertussis sounds like here.

How can tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis be prevented?

The Tdap vaccine is the best way to prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. When you are 11 or 12 years old, you need the Tdap vaccine.

Why is Tdap vaccine especially important for youth?

You probably received DTaP vaccine when you were younger, but the protection from that vaccination is wearing off. You need a booster shot of Tdap vaccine to help maintain your protection from tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Pertussis can last weeks to months, causing you to miss school and other activities.

What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?

HPV is a group of viruses that commonly affects preteens and teens. Most of the time, the body can fight off HPV, but sometimes HPV can cause serious infection. There is no cure for HPV, but there are ways to treat the health problems caused by HPV such as genital warts and certain cancers. There is no way to know which people will develop cancer or other health problems. Prevention is better than treatment.

HPV Type:	Can Cause in Boys:	Can Cause in Girls:
16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58	Types of Cancer: Penile Anal Mouth Throat	Types of Cancer: Cervical Vaginal Vulvar Anal Mouth Throat
6, 11	Genital Warts on: Penis Testicles Groin Thighs In/around the anus	Genital Warts on: Vagina Cervix In/around the anus

How do people get HPV?

About 13 million people, including teens, become infected with HPV each year. More than 42 million Americans are currently infected with HPV types that cause disease. 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. It’s possible to get more than one type of HPV. There is no test to find out a person’s “HPV status.” Also, there is no approved HPV test to find HPV in the mouth or throat. For more information, click here.

How can HPV be prevented?

HPV vaccine is the best way to prevent infections and HPV-related cancers. You will need two or three doses of the vaccine depending on your age and health conditions.  Those who are 11 or 12 years old should get two shots of HPV vaccine.  Adolescents who have certain health conditions or who start the vaccine series at 15 years of age or older will need three doses.  It’s important that you get all doses in the series so that you are fully protected. For more information, click here.

New Jersey Girls

• In 2019, about 7 out of 10 New Jersey girls (ages 13-17 years) surveyed received 1 dose of HPV.
• In 2019, about 5 out of 10 New Jersey girls (ages 13-17 years) surveyed received all recommended* doses of HPV.

New Jersey Boys

• In 2019, about 6 out of 10 of New Jersey boys (ages 13-17 years) surveyed received 1 doses of HPV.
• In 2019, about 5 out of 10 of New Jersey boys (ages 13-17 years) surveyed received all recommended* doses of HPV.

*The CDC and ACIP recommendation regarding the recommended number of doses was updated on October 19, 2016. For more information, click here.

(PMW3 2012 winner Kiefer Wilson)

What is meningococcal disease?

Meningococcal (muh-nin-jo-cok-ul) disease is a serious bacterial infection. The disease may result in inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (Meningococcal meningitis) and/or a serious blood infection (Meningococcal septicemia).  Meningococcal disease can become deadly in 48 hours or less. Even with treatment, 10-15% of people die.  Others have long-term complications such as brain damage, learning problems, skin scarring, hearing loss, and loss of arms and/or legs.

What are common symptoms of meningococcal disease?

• Confusion
• Fatigue (feeling very tired)
• Fever and chills
• In later stages, a dark purple rash
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rapid breathing
• Sensitivity to light
• Severe headache
• Stiff neck

For more information, click here.

How do people get meningococcal disease?

The bacteria are spread from person-to-person through the exchange of saliva (spit), coughs, and sneezes. The bacteria are not as contagious as the common cold or flu and does not spread by casual contact or breathing the air where a person who is sick has been. You must be in direct (close) contact with an infected person’s secretions to be exposed.

Examples of close contact include:

• Kissing
• Sharing anything that comes into contact with the mouth (drinking glasses, smoking materials, eating utensils, cosmetics, or lip balm)
• Living in the same house
• Sleeping in the same residence (sleepovers)

About 1 out of 10 people carry meningococcal bacteria in their nose and throat, but don’t get sick. These people are known as carriers. Although carriers do not have any signs or symptoms, they can still spread the bacteria and make others sick.

How can meningococcal disease be prevented?

Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) is the best way to prevent meningococcal disease. The vaccine protects against the most common strains circulating in the United States. The first dose is routinely administered when you are 11-12 years old. When you are 16 years old, you will need a booster shot.

There is a different vaccine to prevent against meningococcal type B disease.  To learn more, click here.

Why is meningococcal ACWY vaccine especially important for youth?

Although meningococcal disease is uncommon, teens and young adults 16 through 23 years old are at increased risk. Meningococcal disease is a serious infection and can result in permanent disabilities and even death.

(Courtesy of Shot by Shot) – Kaela’s Story

More information is available from Voices of Meningitis, click here.

What is influenza?

Influenza or “flu” is a highly contagious (easily spread) respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. As many as 41 million people get sick with the flu each year.

Symptoms include:

• body aches
• coughs
• fever/chills
• headaches
• sore throat

Unlike many other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, the flu can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people. Young children, pregnant women, people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, kidney disease, or heart disease), and people 65 and older are at increased risk. Each year, as many as 710,000 hospitalizations and up to 52,000 deaths occur in the U.S. from flu-related complications.

How do people get the flu?

You can get the flu from an infected person when they cough, sneeze, talk, or by touching a surface that has flu virus on it and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Infected people can spread the flu a day before they feel sick and for about a week after symptoms begin.

How can the flu be prevented?

The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine every year if you are 6 months old or older. In the United States, flu season occurs in the fall and winter, but can sometimes last until May. It’s important to get vaccinated soon after vaccine becomes available in your community.

Why is the flu vaccine especially important for youth?

• This year, getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever to protect yourself and the people around you from flu and to help reduce the strain on healthcare systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Protection from last year’s flu vaccine wears off so to be fully protected, you need to be vaccinated for the current flu season.
• The flu can be very serious, even for healthy youth, and especially for youth with certain health conditions like asthma or diabetes.
• If you get the flu, you could miss one to two weeks of school and activities. Some youth have painful complications like sinus infections, ear infections, or pneumonia.
• By getting a flu vaccination, you protect yourself and your friends, grandparents, parents, and siblings from potentially life-threatening diseases.

Top 3 reasons you should get the flu vaccine every year:

1. Protect yourself. While the flu may not seem like a big deal, it can be very serious for some youth, especially youth with certain health conditions. It is important to receive a flu vaccine every year. Read Martin’s Story.
2. Be a Hero. When you are vaccinated against the flu, you can stop the spread of flu to people around you. The flu can be life threatening to babies and elders, so you can save a life by stopping the disease.
3. Get better faster. Even if you do get the flu, it will be less severe, meaning you won’t feel as bad and it won’t last as long.

Test your knowledge on the flu here:

Everyone needs vaccines, including you!

MenB

There are vaccines available to help prevent meningococcal disease caused by type B.  If you are 10 years old or older and at increased risk, it is recommended that you receive a MenB vaccination.  When you are 16-23 years old, you can receive a MenB vaccination (preferably at 16 through 18 years old), in addition to the routinely administered meningococcal ACWY vaccine, to help provide broader protection.  Ask your healthcare provider if you should receive this vaccine.

Travel Vaccines

Are you going to a different country for vacation, study abroad, a sports tournament or to volunteer? That’s great! But before you start packing, check CDC’s Travelers’ Health to see if you need additional vaccines to keep you healthy on your adventure.

Catch-Up

There are several vaccines you need as you grow up. Sometimes things come up and you may have missed one. Click here to make sure you are up-to-date with all your vaccinations. Talk to your parents and healthcare provider if you think you might need any.

Want to learn more about the vaccines you need to stay healthy? Here are some sites with accurate information:

General

• New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) Vaccines for Preteens and Teens
• CDC BAM! Body & Mind
• CDC Vaccines for Children 7 through 18
• Tips for getting vaccines*

Tdap

• CDC Pertussis
• CDC Tetanus
• CDC Diphtheria

HPV

• NJDOH HPV Website
• CDC Information on HPV
• CDC HPV Vaccination

Meningococcal Disease

• NJDOH Meningococcal Invasive Disease Webpage
• CDC Meningococcal Vaccine
• National Meningitis

Flu

• NJDOH Flu Webpage
• CDC Flu Vaccine
• Families Fighting Flu*

COVID-19

• CDC Frequenty Asked Questions for Children and Teens
• COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens with Disabilities 

Travel

• CDC Travelers’ Health

Apps

• Vaccines on the Go (Android & Apple)*
• Docket

 

*The link to this website is intended to provide additional information pertaining to immunizations strictly for informational or educational purposes. The New Jersey Department of Health is not responsible for the content of this website and does not endorse private organizations.