Does your back-to-school to-do list include vaccination?

(BPT) - Back-to-school time for parents of preteens and teens often involves purchasing school supplies, coordinating extracurricular activities, and organizing fall schedules. However, this time is also a good opportunity to talk with your health care professional about vaccines that may be recommended for your preteen or teen.

"Many parents had their children vaccinated when they were younger, but some vaccines may also be recommended for children when they are older," says Beth Battaglino, RN, president and CEO of HealthyWomen.org. "Preteens and teens tend to have fewer regular visits with their health care professional as they get older, and visits are often for sports physicals or checkups. However, these types of visits can be used as an opportunity to ask about vaccines for your preteen or teen."

Vaccines are recommended not only for children, preteens and teens, but across an individual's lifetime, to help maintain health and wellness. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend vaccines to help prevent more than 15 diseases, and they have recommended vaccination schedules for children and adults. Some vaccines may require more than one dose.

To learn more about vaccines recommended for preteens, teenagers, and people of all ages, parents should talk to their health care professional and visit sponsor.WebMD.com/VACCINES. The website provides information developed by Merck on WebMD about the history of vaccines and how they are developed, approved and manufactured. It also offers a resource that can be used when talking to a health care professional about vaccination.