Immunization of Adolescents

1. Immunization of Adolescents
   
2. Adolescence presents special challenges for immunization in relation to life-style and other social issues, whilst also offering special opportunities, such as vaccine delivery in the setting of educational institutions.

Reasons for adolescent immunization fall into the following three broad categories:

1. To boost the waning immunity by giving booster doses.
2. To accelerate control or elimination efforts of various diseases like Measles.
3. To counter a specific risk e.g. due to travel, their life style etc.

Vaccination Schedule in Adolescents

Vaccine	Age
Tetanus Toxoid	Booster at 10 and 16 years
Rubella vaccine	As part of MMR vaccine or (Monovalent) 1 dose to girls at 12-13 years of age, if not given earlier
MMR Vaccine	1 dose at 12-13 years of age. (if not given earlier)
Hepatitis B. Vaccine	3 Doses (0, 1 and 6 m) if not given earlier
Typhoid Vaccine	TA, Vi or Oral typhoid vaccine every 3 years
Varicella Vaccine*	1 dose up to 12-13 years, and 2 doses after 13 years of age. (if not given earlier)
Hepatitis A Vaccine*	2 doses (0 and 6 months) if not given earlier

Varicella* and Hepatitis A* vaccine are additional vaccines. These vaccines are recommended depending upon the epidemiology of these diseases especially in the adolescent age group where fatal complications are likely to occur. If a child has already suffered from Chickenpox/Hepatitis A the vaccine need not be given.

Dr Marwah