Parent of a Teenager?
In January this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (ACIP) updated the recommended use of Menactra to include a booster dose at age 16 or five years after the first dose. The original decision was to vaccinate children between the age of 11 and 12, hoping protection would last ten years. Research now shows that antibody levels have declined in some children.
Menactra vaccinates against meningococcal disease and septicemia. Individuals at high risk include children going to summer or sleep away camp, college freshman, and adults entering the military. If you think your child may need a booster dose, call and we can check the immunization record. If your child has had a check up within the last year, you can schedule a quick visit with the nurse to receive the booster. If it has been more than a year since your child's well visit, the doctor will want to see you.