TEEN TRENDS: GO AHEAD...TALK TO YOUR TEENAGER!

I hadn't realized that it has been almost a month since I last posted, but...what can I say?  Since my mother passed away, I haven't been excited about doing anything.  I did graduate on April 27...finally!!  I also have a job as a special education teacher starting August 1.

 

I decided to bring one of my older posts to the front line, because it is so important that parents talk to their teens (and I mean more than just a couple of minutes of asking "how was school today?")  If you still have little ones at home, I give tips on starting to talk to your child early. 

 

I promise I will start to work on other articles to post real soon :)

Talking with your teenager is one of the most important things you can do as a parent.  But, the thought of talking to their teen about sex, drugs, etc. sends some parents into hiding, leaving their teen to figure out these life situations on their own, which means they will more than likely look for answers elsewhere.  But, I'm here to tell you that you can talk to your teen about these issues, plus many more, and survive.

IMPORTANT TOPICS:

• Cigarettes
• Alcohol
• Drugs
• Premarital sex
• Abstinence
• Safe sex
• Pregnancy
• STD's
• Cheating
• Bullying
• Racism/discrimination
• Dating violence

TIPS:

- Start talking to your child when they are young.
       I started talking to my girls when they were around 3 or 4. I first started talking
       about cigarettes, because they are everywhere - TV, movies, out in public (age
       appropriate talk of course).  As they got older, I started talking about alcohol and
       then drugs.  The older they got, the more I talked.  (Of course, if you didn't start
       talking  to your teen when he/she was young, it is still never too late to start.)
- *"It's better...too much, too soon than too little, too late."
- If you start talking to your child about these issues when they are young, when they become
       teenagers and have questions, it will be second nature for them to come to you.
- Start talking (and demonstrating) to your child about your values, so they grow up knowing
       what you believe and what you expect.
- Ask questions.
       I know "who, what, when, where, why, and for how long" before my girls walk out the
       door.  (Hollie turned 20 in January, and I still ask her these questions.)
- Don't have one big talk, but have lots of small talks...while driving in the car, eating dinner,
       when you're out shopping. If you look for opportunities to talk to your teen, you'll find
       them.  Just be there. Your teen wants your guidance (even though they may not come
       right out and ask for it).  I even have little talks with my daughter's friends, because, it's
       sad to say, but their parents don't talk to them and they have questions.
- One of the most important things to remember is that no matter what you teen tells you or
       how bad the situation is, you cannot yell, cuss or freak out or your teen won't come
       to you again.  Hollie would usually come to me when I was watching a Lifetime Movie,
       and she would say, "momma, I did something I wasn't suppose to do", and I'd be
       thinking "Oh God".  I never knew what she was going to tell me.  Or she would write
       me a letter after I went to bed and leave it on my bathroom counter for me to see
       when I got up.  When I would see that piece of paper on my counter, I would first
       say a little prayer.  Now, April (who is 14) has started leaving me notes on my
       bathroom counter.  (But she is usually apologizing for being sassy.)  Hollie talks to
       her all the time about these teen issues, which has been very helpful.
- It is usually best to wait until the next day to talk to your teen about the situation,
       especially if it's bad.  This gives you time to calm down and think about what needs
       to be done.  Just calmly tell your teen, "we'll talk about this tomorrow", and always
       tell your teen that you love him/her no matter how upset you are.
- As I've said in an earlier post, when talking to your teen, that old saying "do as I say
       and not as I do" won't work.  Believe it or not, you are your teen's biggest role
       model.
- But, if you are talking to your teen, and he/she asks if you ever smoked pot, etc. and
       you did, don't lie and say you didn't.  Your teen needs you to be honest with them, and
       your smoking pot is not going to make your teen want to go out and do it.  Explain the
       negative effects it had on you, and explain why your teen shouldn't smoke, etc.  Just
       don't lie.
- According to About.com, "because I said so" actually works when you are being pulled
       into a power struggle in a discipline situation.  You are the parent, and you have the
       final word.  But it is best if you explain your reasoning whenever possible.
- And please, be careful how you talk to your teen. Don't try to hurt or humiliate your teen.
       Hollie's dad thought calling her "fat" would make her want to lose weight or calling her
       "stupid" would make her want to study more. Talking to your teen like this will destroy
       him/her.  Hollie has had so many problems because of this abuse.  (See my post on
       Emotional Abuse.)  And as my mother always told me, "if you can't say anything nice,
       don't say anything at all".  Just walk away.
- During these conversations with your teen, be prepared for your teen to laugh  at you or
       think you're lame.  That's okay.  My girls laugh at me all the time (not in a
       disrespectful way), but the language has changed so much over the years. 
- *Look for clues that your teen needs to talk.  He/she will give hints, without coming right
       out and saying, "let's talk".

      

THINGS TO NEVER SAY TO YOUR TEEN:

• "You're too young to understand."
• "If you say that again, I'll...."
• "I don't care what your friends are doing."
• "Don't come to me if you mess up."

Of course, a big part of talking to your teen is knowing how to listen.

TIPS ON LISTENING:

- Stop what you are doing and give your full attention. 

- Look at your teen while talking.

- Don't judge, just listen.
- Sometimes all your teen needs is for you to listen.

Always make sure that your teen knows that  you will love him/her no matter what they do and that they can come to you at any time.

And again, please remember I am no expert.  These are just things I did as my girls were growing up, and while I'm sure they don't tell me everything, they know they can talk to me about anything.  But I must admit, sometimes they tell me things I really did not want to know.

*www.aish.com

*www.parentingteens.suite101.com

TEEN TRENDS: WOULD YOU KNOW IF YOUR TEEN WERE SHOPLIFTING?

Your daughter is wearing jewelry or clothes you've never seen before. Your son's CD collection seems to be growing.  Would you recognize signs that your teen is shoplifting? (With Christmas  right around the corner, shoplifting is more tempting for teens wanting to give nice gifts to friends and family, but have no source of income.)

"Five finger discount", "lifting", "jacking", "racking", "nicking", and "boosting" are some of the slang terms used for shoplifting.  No matter what it is called, shoplifting is a crime that could land your teen into big trouble.

FACTS:

• About 23 million people steal from retail stores...that's 1 in 11 Americans.
• 1 out 4 shoplifters caught is a teenager.
• Shoplifters steal an estimated $25 million from stores each year.
• Teens age 13 to 17 account for 25% of all shoplifters arrested.
• 89% of teens say they know other teens who shoplift.
• Boys and girls, age 12 to 14 or younger, get involved with shoplifting.
• 20% of adults who shoplift say they started stealing in their teens.

WHY TEENS SHOPLIFT:

• For the thrill.
• On a dare or because of peer pressure.
• As a form of rebellion.
• The desire for things they can't afford.
• Some teens shoplift so they can in turn buy drugs or alcohol.
• Poor impulse control.
• Some teens shoplift to show off.
• Some teens will shoplift because they feel unworthy, unattractive or not accepted.
• Teens who shoplift may be depressed, confused or mad at the world.
• For an older teen, shoplifting may be a sign of a disorder, such as kleptomania.
• Teens typically steal items they can't afford or are not allowed to have, such as CDs, makeup, clothes, and cigarettes.

YOU GET THAT DREADED PHONE CALL, NOW WHAT?

• First, take a deep breath.  If this is your teen's first time shoplifting, it doesn't been he/she is headed for a life of crime.
• Decide on the consequences beforehand.
• Find out who is in charge and if charges are being filed. (Most businesses won't file charges on a first offense.)
• Avoid confronting your teen at the scene. Don't try to humiliate your teen.
• Once you get home, allow yourself time to cool off.  It is probably best to wait until the next day to discuss the incident, after you have calmed down, and your teen isn't defensive.
• Follow through with the consequences.
• Don't try to protect your teen if legal consequences are involved.  Be there for your teen and support him/her, but let him/her suffer the consequences.  There is no greater "eye-opener" than spending the night in a juvenile detention center. 

WHAT TEENS NEED TO KNOW:

• Teens that are caught shoplifting are detained instantly.
• Shoplifters may be handcuffed and publicly escorted through the store to the manager's office.
• In most states, the punishment for shoplifting depends on the value of the merchandise  stolen and whether or not the teen has shoplifted in the past.
• When a teen steals something with a value less than $300 to $500, the teen is usually charged as a petty theft misdemeanor. When a teen steals merchandise with a higher value or the crime is a repeat offense, he/she may be charged with a felony.
• The penalties for teen shoplifting can include punitive fines, community service, and jail time.
• Continued stealing can lead to greater consequences, including juvenile detention.
• He/she can be prosecuted, and retailers can demand and collect financial damages in civil court.
• Repeat offenders are arrested on the spot, and serious offenses involving weapons are remanded to adult court.
• Make sure your teen understands that if he/she keeps stealing and putting himself/herself at risk, you won't be able to protect him/her.

You may be thinking that only troubled teenagers shoplift, but even "model" teens can have trouble with stealing.

If the problem continues or if it's accompanied by other destructive behaviors, such as violent behavior, depression, falling grades or suspected substance abuse, you may need to consider seeking professional help.

http://www.onlinelawyersource.com/criminal_law/shoplifting/teen.html
Picture cururtesy of www.toptenz.net

TEEN TRENDS - BINGE DRINKING

Do you have a son or daughter leaving for college soon?  As a parent, it is hard to let go of our children, but every parent faces the "empty nest" sooner or later.  So, while you are out shopping for supplies for the dormitory, there is an important talk you need to have with your son/daughter.  Binge drinking...

The term “binge” drinking refers to the heavy consumption of five or more alcoholic drinks in a row by males and four or more drinks by females. A unit of alcohol is one standard drink:

• Half a pint of beer - 3-9% alcohol by volume (ABV);
• A small glass of wine (125ml) at 8% ABV;
• A pub measure of liquor (25ml) at 40% ABV;

Despite laws in every State that make it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase or possess alcohol, teens report that alcohol is easy to obtain and that many high school and college students drink with one goal in mind – to get drunk. About one-third of high school students and 45% of college students report binge drinking.

*“Highlights of SAMHSA’s 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse include:

• About 10.4 million adolescents ages 12 to 20 reported using alcohol. Of those, 5.1 million were binge drinkers and included 2.3 million heavy drinkers who binged at least five times a month.
• Nearly 9 percent of boys and 7 percent of girls ages 12 to 17 reported binge drinking in the previous month.
• White, non-Hispanic youth ages 12 to 17 reported the highest frequency of binge drinking (9 percent) as compared with 6 percent of Hispanic and 3 percent of black, non-Hispanic youth.
• Binge drinking among youth ages 12 to 17 appears to occur most frequently in the north central region of the United States and in metropolitan areas.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the four leading injury-related causes of death among youths under the age of 20 are motor vehicle crashes, homicides, suicides and drowning. Alcohol is involved in many of these deaths.

WHY DO TEENS BINGE DRINK?

• They drink to get drunk;
• They’re curious;
• They want to know what it’s like to drink alcohol;
• The status associated with drinking;
• They believe it will make them feel good;
• They may look at alcohol as a way to relieve stress;
• Peer pressure.

WHO BINGE DRINKS?

• College students are more likely to binge drink, especially freshmen away from home for the first time;
• If they were binge drinkers in high school, they are three times more likely to binge in college;
• Binge drinkers are more likely to be white, male students;
• Attend school in the northeast part of the country;
• Be associated with fraternities, sororities or athletic activities;
• Live in frat or sorority houses or dorms.

RISKS OF BINGE DRINKING:

• *"Alcohol poisoning – a severe and potentially fatal physical reaction to an alcohol overdose – is the most serious consequence of binge drinking. When excessive amounts of alcohol are consumed, the brain is deprived of oxygen. The struggle to deal with an overdose of alcohol and lack of oxygen will eventually cause the brain to shut down the voluntary functions that regulate breathing and heart rate."
• Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:
• Vomiting
• Unconsciousness
• Cold, clammy, pale, or bluish skin
• Slow or irregular breathing (less than 8 breaths a minute or 10 or more seconds between breaths)

IF YOU SUSPECT SOMEONE HAS ALCOHOL POISONING, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.

SECONDARY EFFECTS OF BINGE DRINKING:

• Of schools with high binge drinking rates, 34 percent of non-binge drinkers reported being insulted or humiliated by binge drinkers;
• 13 percent reported being pushed, hit, or assaulted;
• 54 percent reported having to take care of a drunken student;
• 68 percent were interrupted while studying;
• 26 percent of women experienced an unwanted sexual advance.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Frequent binge drinkers were eight times more likely than non-binge drinkers to miss a class, fall behind in schoolwork, get hurt or injured, and damage property;
• Nearly one out of every five teenagers (16 percent) has experienced “black out” spells where they could not remember what happened the previous evening because of heavy binge drinking;
• More than 60 percent of college males and almost 50 percent of college females who are frequent binge drinkers report that they drink and drive;
• Binge drinking during college may be associated with mental health disorders, such as compulsiveness, depression, anxiety or early deviant behavior;
• In a national study, 91 percent of females and 78 percent of the males who were frequent binge drinkers considered themselves to be moderate or light drinkers.

TYPES OF TREATMENT:

• Group Counseling - Teens respond very well to group counseling. Individual counseling may be helpful as well, but it can be difficult to get teens to open up in a one-on-one situation.
• Education About Teenage Alcoholism - Education is an extremely important part of the treatment of teenage alcoholism. Teens rarely understand the dangers of drinking alcohol. They need to be educated about the health risks they face when they drink.
• Family Counseling - Family counseling is a crucial part of the treatment for teen alcoholism. Family counseling is geared towards repairing the relationship between parents and teens. Parents and teens need to learn healthy communication skills. Family members need to learn how best to support teens in recovery.
• Medical Treatment - Teens that have been drinking heavily may need to detox. Detoxing should always be done under medical supervision.

We all know that TV and movies glamorize drinking; very seldom do they show any consequences of drinking, so teenagers don't realize how dangerous drinking can be. As parents, we have to talk to our teens, and explain to them that drinking too much alcohol too fast in a very short period of time is like writing their own death certificate. Take it from someone who knows, with teens, you have to be blunt and give them all the facts. This is one discussion you can't afford to put off having with your teen, especially if he/she will be living on campus.

*http://www.ncadi.samhsa.gov/

TEEN TRENDS - BULLYING

(This blog is written to inform parents & others of disturbing trends of teenagers.)

As the new school year begins so does the homework, sports, cheer-leading, other extracurricular activities, and sadly, bullying. This is an old post that I did last school year, but as the new year starts up again, the bullying will soon follow, so I thought it was important to put this topic back into the forefront of all parent's minds.  Even though a lot of attention has been placed on bullying, a solution for this huge problem has not been found, so it is up to parents to take a stand and fight for their child.  Every child has the right to attend school, without the fear of being the victim of a bully.

BULLYING is the assertion of power through aggression in a repeated, hostile behavior by one or more people, which is intended to harm others.

BULLYING TAKES ON MANY FORMS:

• Physical violence, including hitting, tripping, punching, kicking, shoving, pinching. Verbal threats, taunts, teasing, name calling, put-downs, and spreading of malicious rumor.
• Threats and intimidation.
• Stealing money and possessions.
• Exclusion from peer groups, rejection, isolation, humiliation.
• Cyber-bullying, including harassing e-mails or IMs, as well as hurtful and threatening postings on websites or blogs.

"Bullying is not about anger. It is not a conflict to be resolved, it's about contempt - a powerful feeling of dislike toward someone considered to be worthless, inferior or undeserving of respect. Contempt comes with three apparent psychological advantages that allow kids to harm others without feeling empathy, compassion or shame. These are: a sense of entitlement that they have the right to hurt or control others, an intolerance towards difference, and a freedom to exclude, bar, isolate, and segregate others." (Barbara Coloroso "The Bully, the Bullied and the Bystander")

WARNING SIGNS OF BULLYING:

• Damaged or missing clothing or other personal belongings
• Unexplained bruises or other injuries
• A loss of friends
• Reluctance to go to school
• Poor school performance
• Headaches, stomachaches or other physical complaints
• Trouble sleeping or change in eating habits
• A loss of interest in activities he/she previously enjoyed
• Low self esteem, depression, suicidal thoughts

WHY DO SOME KIDS BULLY?

• They may see it as a way of being popular.
• To make themselves appear tough and in charge.
• To get attention or make other people afraid of them.
• They may be jealous of the person they are bullying. 
• They may have been bullied themselves.
 

KIDS WHO BULLY ARE MORE LIKELY TO:

• Do poorly in school.
• Be suspended or expelled from school. 
• Not be respected or trusted. 
• Be seen as mean and unpleasant. 
• Smoke and drink alcohol. 
• Commit crimes in the future. 
• Have their first serious encounter with the law in their mid-20's.

*FACTS ABOUT BULLYING:

• Bullying occurs in school playgrounds every 7 minutes and once every 25 minutes in class.
• 11 to 12 year old students reported bullying others more than younger (9-10 year old) and older (13-14 year old) students.
• Boys report more physical forms of bullying; girls tend to bully in indirect ways, such as gossiping and excluding.
• Boys who bully are physically stronger and have a need to dominate others.
• Girls who bully tend to be physically weaker than other girls in their class.
• Bullies have little empathy for their victims and show little remorse about bullying.
• Boys and girls are equally likely to report being bullied.
• Research has not supported the popular stereotype that victims have unusual physical traits.
• 85% of bullying episodes occur in the context of a peer group.
• 83% of students indicate that watching bullying makes them feel uncomfortable.
• Bullying stops in less than 10 seconds 57% of the time when peers intervene on behalf of the victim.
• In playground observations, peers intervened in 11% of the bullying episodes, while teachers only intervened in 4% of bullying episodes.
• Bullies often come from homes that are neglectful, hostile, and use harsh punishment.
• Bullying is  a learned behavior.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO (If you suspect your child is being bullied)?

• Talk often with your child and listen carefully.
• Ask about your child's school day and friends.
• Ask if your child feels safe at school.
• Encourage your child to share his/her concerns.
• Learn as much as you can about the situation. (Ask your child to describe how and when the bullying occurs, who is involved, and if other children or adults have witnessed the bullying.)
• Teach your child how to respond to bullying. (Don't encourage fighting back against a bully, as this could lead to him/her getting hurt or getting in trouble.)
• Contact school officials.  You may also want to encourage school officials to address bullying as part of the curriculum.
• Followup.  Keep in contact with school officials if the bullying continues.  Be persistent.
• Boost your child's self-confidence.  Help your child get involved in activities to raise self esteem, such as sports, karate, music or art.
• Know when to seek professional help.  Consider professional or school counseling for your child if his/her fear or anxiety becomes overwhelming.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO (When your child is a bully)?

• Take is seriously.  Don't treat bullying as a passing phase.
• Teach that bullying is disrespectful and can be dangerous.
• Talk to your child to find out why he or she is bullying.
• Help build empathy for others and for those who are physically different.  Have them spend time with people of different backgrounds, races, ethnicity, mental and physical disabilities. 
• Talk to your child about how it feels to be bullied.
• Ask a teacher if your child is facing any problems at school.
• Teach that bullying on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation is a form of hate behavior and is, in some cases, a hate crime.
• Become a part of the bullying prevention efforts and programs at your school.

As if traditional bullying wasn't enough, kids are now being bullied online, called CYBER bullying.

i-SAFE America research team surveyed more than 1500 students in 4th to 8th grade across the country that revealed: 

• 58% admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online.
• 53% admit having said something mean or hurtful to another online.
• 42% have been bullied online.
• 58% of kids have not told their parents or any adult about being bullied online.

CYBER-BULLYING INCLUDES:

• A threatening email. 
• Nasty instant messages (IMs)
• Repeated texts sent to cell phone. 
• A website setup to mock others.
• "Borrowing" someones screen name and pretending to be them while posting a message.
• Forwarding supposedly private messages, pictures or video to others.

PREVENTION TECHNIQUES FOR AVOIDING BULLIES ONLINE:

• Don't give out private information, especially passwords. Not even to friends.
• Don't send a message when you are angry-it is hard to undo things that are said in anger.
• Never open, read or reply to messages from cyber-bullies.
• If it is school related, tell your school.
• Do not erase the messages. They may be needed to take action.
• If bullied through chat or IM, the bully can often be blocked.
• If you are threatened with harm, call the police.
• By speaking out and telling an adult, online bullying can be stopped.

Bullying is an age old problem, but gone are the days when we can sit back and say, "kids will be kids". Bullying has gone too far. School administrators, teachers, school staff, students, and parents have got to accept the responsibility to recognize, report, and intervene when bullying occurs. We can no longer close our eyes to it. Studies have shown that acts of serious school violence (school shootings) stem from bullying issues, along with suicide.

The video below is by Christian rock band Super Chick, called "Hero". It was made in remembrance of those killed in the Columbine school shootings. Please watch and listen to the words.

WILL YOU BE SOMEONES HERO?

YOUR TEEN AND IMMUNIZATIONS (Which ones do they really need?)

It is hard to believe, but school starts back in less than a month (at least here in Mississippi), so it is time to take a look at immunizations that are important for your teen/tween.
As mothers, it is up to us to provide our children with all they need (not all they want) to grow into healthy, happy adults - food, clothing, education, and immunizations.  I do know there are some mothers who do not agree with getting their children immunized, but I'm not here to debate this somewhat controversial topic. This is a personal decision that everyone has to make.

As our children grow into the tween/teen years, you may think you are finally finished with the immunizations, but there are some very important immunizations tweens/teens need to ensure they stay disease-free:

Td/Tdap:

- Td vaccine protects against tetanus and diphtheria.

- Tdap vaccine is the first vaccine for adolescents and adults that protects against:

1. Tetanus (Lock Jaw): 

• Causes painful muscle spasms, usually all over the body.
• It can lead to tightening of the jaw muscles so the victim cannot open his/her mouth or swallow.
• Tetanus kills about 1 out of 5 people who are infected.

     2.  Diphtheria:

• Causes a thick covering in the back of the throat.
• It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, and death.

     3.  Pertussis (Whooping Cough):

• Causes severe coughing spells, vomiting, and disturbed sleep.
• It can lead to weight loss, incontinence, rib fractures, passing out from violent coughing, and pneumonia.

(These three diseases are all caused by bacteria.  Diphtheria and pertussis are spread from person to person.  Tetanus enters the body through cuts, scratches or wounds.)

WHICH VACCINE AND WHEN?

Routine: Adolescents 11-18

• A dose of Tdap is recommended for adolescents who got the DTaP or DTP as children and have not yet gotten a booster dose of Td.   The preferred age is 11-12.
• Adolescents who did not get all their scheduled doses of DTaP or DTP as children should complete this series using a combination of Td and Tdap.
• Age 19 to adults should get a booster dose of Td every ten years.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

Mild/Moderate Problems:

Tdap

• Pain (3 in 4)
• Redness or swelling (about 1 in 5)
• Mild fever (up to 1 in 25)
• Fever over 102 (about 1 in 100)
• Headache (about 4 in 10)
• Tiredness (about 1 in 3)
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache (up to 1 in 4)
• Chills, body aches, sore joints, rash, swollen glands (uncommon)

Td

• Pain (up to about 8 in 10)
• Redness or swelling (up to about 1 in 3)
• Fever (up to about 1 in 15)
• Fever over 102 (rare)
• Headache or tiredness (uncommon)

MENINGOCOCCAL:

• Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial illness.  It is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children ages 2-18.  Meningitis is an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
• About 1,000-2,600 people get meningococcal disease in the U.S. each year.  
• Even when treated with antibiotics, 10-15% of these people will die.  Of those who survive, another 11-19% lose their arms or legs, become deaf, have problems with their nervous systems, become mentally retarded, suffer seizures or stroke.
• College freshman who live in dormitories and teenagers 15-19 have an increased risk of getting meningococcal disease.
• Meningococcal infections can be treated with antibiotics.  Still, about 1 out of 10 people who get this disease dies from it, and many others are affected for life.  
• This is why preventing the disease through use of meningococcal vaccine is important.

There are two kinds of meningococcal vaccine in the U.S.:

1. Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) was licensed in 2005. Preferred vaccine for people 2-55 years of age.
2. Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) has been available since 1970s.  It is the only vaccine in people older than 55.

Both vaccines can prevent 4 types of meningococcal disease.  The vaccines cannot prevent all types of the disease, but both vaccines work well and protect about 90% of people who get them.

WHO SHOULD GET THE VACCINE AND WHEN?

• A dose of MCV4 is recommended for adolescents 11-18 years of age.
• College freshman living in dormitories.
• U.S. military recruits.
• Anyone who has a damaged spleen or whose spleen has been removed.
• Anyone who has an immune system disorder.
• People who might have been exposed to meningitis during an outbreak.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

Mild/Moderate Problems

• Redness or pain at injection site (as many as half)
• Fever (rare)
• Serious allergic reactions within a few minutes to a few hours of the shot (very rare).
• A serious nervous system disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) (rare).

HPV (HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS):

• Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the U.S.
• More than half of sexually active men and women are infected with HPV at some time in their lives.
• About 20 million people are currently infected.
• Most HPV infections don't cause any symptoms, and go away on their own.
• HPV can cause cervical cancer in women.
• Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women.
• In the U.S., about 10,000 women get cervical cancer and about 4,000 are expected to die from it.
• HPV is associated with less common cancers, such as vaginal and vulva cancer in women and other types of cancer in men and women.
• It can also cause genital warts and warts in the throat.

WHO SHOULD GET THE HPV VACCINE AND WHEN?

• HPV vaccine is recommended for girls 11 or 12 years of age. It may be given to girls starting ate age 9. It is recommended at this young age, because it should be given before their first sexual contact.
• Once a girl has been infected with the virus, the vaccine might not work as well or might not work at all.
• Anyone who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any component of the HPV vaccine or anyone who is pregnant SHOULD NOT get the HPV vaccine.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS? 

Mild/Moderate Problems:

• Pain in the injection site (about 9 in 10)
• Redness and swelling at the injection site (about 1 in 2)
• Fever of 99.5 or higher (about 1 in 8)
• Headache or fatigue (about 1 in 2)
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain (about 1 in 4)
• Muscle or joint pain (up to 1 in 2)
• Fainting

This post is getting a little long, so I'm going to condense these next few immunizations that tween/teens may need: 

HEPATITIS B VACCINE - Hepatitis B is a serious disease that affects the liver.  It is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). All children should get their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth and should have completed the vaccine series by 6-18 months.  It is recommended that children and adolescents that  did not get the vaccine when they were younger should be vaccinated.  Hepatitis B can cause:

• Loss of appetite
• tiredness
• pain in muscles, joints, and stomach
• diarrhea and vomiting
• Jaundice
• Liver damage (cirrhosis)
• Liver cancer
• Death

PNEUMOCOCCAL POLYSACCHARIDE VACCINE - Pneumococcal disease is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria.  It is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable illnesses and death in the U.S.  Pneumococcal disease can cause:

• Blood infections
• Pneumonia
• Meningitis
• Death

This vaccine is recommended for anyone 2 - 64 years of age who has long-term health problems, such as:

• heart disease
• lung disease
• sickle cell disease
• diabetes
• cirrhosis
• Hodgkin's disease
• Lymphoma or leukemia
• Kidney failure
• multiple myeloma
• HIV or AIDS
• damaged spleen
• organ transplant
• receiving certain cancer drugs
• radiation.

INFLUENZA VACCINE is a contagious disease and is spread by coughing, sneezing or nasal secretions.  The influenza vaccine is recommended for infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and certain health conditions, such as:

• Heart, lung or kidney disease
• a weakened immune system

(A severe allergic reaction could occur after any vaccine.  They are estimated to occur less than once in a million doses.)


In my opinion (and again, I am not an expert):

• All tweens/teens (and adults) should get a tetanus boost every ten years. 
• No one should hesitate to get their tween/teen the meningococcal vaccine.  Meningitis is a very serious disease.  There are several strands, but acute bacterial meningitis is the most common.   Approximately 80 percent of all cases are acute bacterial meningitis. Bacterial meningitis can be life threatening. The infection can cause the tissues around the brain to swell. This in turn interferes with blood flow and can result in paralysis or even stroke. The onset of symptoms is fast, within 24 hours. If allowed to progress, you can die from bacterial meningitis.  
• When it comes to the HPV, personally, if you know your tween/teen is not sexually active, I wouldn't get this vaccine (and I'm sure there are a lot of people who would disagree with me).
• As far as the other vaccines, influenza and pneumonia, if your tween/teen has a serious, life threatening illness or weaken immune system, they definitely need these two vaccines.  The influenza vaccine is given yearly, but the pneumococcal vaccine is a one time shot.

How important are immunizations to you and your family?

*Picture by The Bridge Medical Service, LLC