Adolescent (10-17 yrs)

It's easy to think that by the time your child becomes an adolescent vaccination may not be needed. Vaccinations are still recommended at this age to protect your child from some serious diseases. Also, unprotected adolescents can spread disease that can be severe in babies eg. whooping cough.

Vaccinating your child during the adolescent years will help to ensure your child's immunity - received from previous vaccinations - does not decrease over time, and to prepare your child for adulthood.

Adolescents generally require fewer vaccinations than babies and younger children, mainly for two reasons - 1) their immune systems are developed and 2) they have usually either received the recommended vaccinations at a younger age or have been naturally infected.

The focus at this age is to get vaccinated against diseases to prepare them for adulthood, and to receive booster doses for diseases where immunity may be waning, such as whooping cough. The number of vaccinations recommended for adolescents will also depend on whether they are up-to-date with the vaccination schedule and whether they fall into certain risk groups. If your child's vaccinations are not current, catch-up doses may also be necessary. Your doctor will advise you of which vaccinations are appropriate for your child.

Some side effects are a sore arm, fever, and pain, redness and swelling at the injection site. A range of other and more serious side effects may be experienced by individuals and may vary depending on the vaccine given. If your child experiences any side-effects, regardless of how minor the symptoms are, make sure you report them to your doctor.

It is worth remembering that the diseases prevented by vaccination can be very severe.  If you have any concerns about the side-effects of vaccines, speak to your doctor before your child is vaccinated.

Vaccination is recommended for healthy Australian children, although it's not compulsory. If a child is not vaccinated and there is an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease at their school, the child may be required to stay home for a certain period until the disease has passed. Vaccination is an effective way to protect your child from some of the more serious infectious diseases. High vaccination rates in healthy individuals also helps protect those individuals who cannot be vaccinated, mainly due to medical reasons eg. a weakened immune system.

If your child has not completed or received any vaccinations recommended for young children and babies, and has not been infected naturally, catch-up doses may be necessary.  As vaccines are generally for specified age groups, catch-up doses may not be funded. Speak with your doctor if you're unsure about your child's vaccination status.