Parents, Get Your Teens Their Vaccines!

By Robert Preidt Source: Medline Plus Many American teens may not get recommended vaccinations, and their parents might bear some of the blame, a new study suggests. The national poll of 614 parents with at least one teenager found that more than one-third didn’t know when their teen’s next vaccine was due. And half incorrectly thought that their doctor would contact them for an appointment at the appropriate time. “When kids are little, their pediatricians usually schedule visits to coincide with the timing of recommended vaccinations,” said Sarah Clark. She is co-director of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health at the University of Michigan. “As children get older, well-child appointments occur less often and health providers may not address vaccines during brief visits for sickness or injury. Many teens may be missing out on important vaccines