What preteens can do What preteens can do to stay healthyto stay healthy

[YOUR NAME AND HERE]

Visit a DoctorVisit a Doctor

Why do I need to visit a Why do I need to visit a doctor? doctor?

11-and 12-year-olds need to 11-and 12-year-olds need to visit a doctor because….visit a doctor because….

Your body is changing, and this is Your body is changing, and this is your opportunity to ask doctors all your opportunity to ask doctors all sorts of questionssorts of questions

Learn about eating right, staying Learn about eating right, staying active and ways to protect your active and ways to protect your body, like getting shots (vaccines)body, like getting shots (vaccines)

What are vaccines?What are vaccines?

Vaccines are a type of medicine that Vaccines are a type of medicine that help you build protection (immunity) help you build protection (immunity) against some diseasesagainst some diseases

Before vaccines, many people would Before vaccines, many people would get diseases that we rarely see today get diseases that we rarely see today (e.g. measles and polio) and (e.g. measles and polio) and sometimes even diesometimes even die

How do vaccines work?How do vaccines work?

The body makes The body makes “antibodies” to “antibodies” to fight these fight these “invaders”“invaders”

A weakened or dead A weakened or dead form of the disease form of the disease germ is injected into germ is injected into the body (but does the body (but does NOTNOT make you sick) make you sick)

If the actual disease If the actual disease germs ever attack, germs ever attack, the “antibodies” are the “antibodies” are still there to destroy still there to destroy them!them!

NO! NOT AGAIN!

Why do I need to get Why do I need to get vaccinated?vaccinated?

There are shots that are especially There are shots that are especially recommended for 11-and 12-year-recommended for 11-and 12-year-oldsolds

If everyone is protected, the germs If everyone is protected, the germs that cause disease can’t spread from that cause disease can’t spread from person to person. This is called “herd person to person. This is called “herd immunity”immunity”

Getting shots protects you, your Getting shots protects you, your family, and friendsfamily, and friends

Ouch! Don’t shots hurt?Ouch! Don’t shots hurt?

Not as much as getting the disease!Not as much as getting the disease! Things to do to relax during your Things to do to relax during your

shots:shots: Have someone keep you companyHave someone keep you company Take a slow deep breathTake a slow deep breath Focus on something funFocus on something fun Listen to musicListen to music Imagine doing your favorite activityImagine doing your favorite activity

What are some diseases What are some diseases that vaccines protect that vaccines protect

against?against?

ChickenpoxChickenpox

Chickenpox is also called varicellaChickenpox is also called varicella Anyone can get it! Anyone can get it! But, it can be very dangerous for But, it can be very dangerous for

preteens, teens and adultspreteens, teens and adults

True or FalseTrue or False:: You can get You can get chickenpox from a chickenchickenpox from a chicken

Human papillomavirus Human papillomavirus (HPV)(HPV)

This vaccine is NOT only for girls! Boys can This vaccine is NOT only for girls! Boys can get it tooget it too

Anyone between 9 and 26 years of age Anyone between 9 and 26 years of age can get the vaccine, but it is can get the vaccine, but it is especially especially important for 11-and 12-year oldsimportant for 11-and 12-year olds

This vaccine can help prevent cervical This vaccine can help prevent cervical cancer in girls (a cancer in the cancer in girls (a cancer in the reproductive system) and other cancers in reproductive system) and other cancers in men and women later on in lifemen and women later on in life

It’s very important to get this vaccine, It’s very important to get this vaccine, because HPV is a very common because HPV is a very common diseasedisease

MeningococcalMeningococcal

Anyone can catch this disease!Anyone can catch this disease! This disease can be spread by sharing This disease can be spread by sharing

saliva (e.g. sharing drinks or kissing). It saliva (e.g. sharing drinks or kissing). It can also be spread through the air when can also be spread through the air when people sneeze or coughpeople sneeze or cough

Some people who catch this disease lose Some people who catch this disease lose their limbs—arms, fingers and legs may be their limbs—arms, fingers and legs may be amputated (cut off). Others become deaf, amputated (cut off). Others become deaf, have brain damage, and some even diehave brain damage, and some even die

Whooping CoughWhooping Cough

Whooping cough is a disease that Whooping cough is a disease that can make you cough so hard it can make you cough so hard it breaks your ribs! You can be sick for breaks your ribs! You can be sick for weeks or even months!weeks or even months!

In 2010 the whooping cough In 2010 the whooping cough epidemic got thousands sick and epidemic got thousands sick and babies died in CAbabies died in CA

Did you know?!? Did you know?!? For the 2011-2012 For the 2011-2012 school yearschool year, all 7, all 7thth-12-12thth graders will graders will need proof of a whooping cough shot need proof of a whooping cough shot before starting schoolbefore starting school

For future school years only For future school years only 77thth gradersgraders will need the shot for school will need the shot for school

Ask your parents to visit Ask your parents to visit shotsforschool.org to learn moreshotsforschool.org to learn more

TetanusTetanus

‘‘Tdap’ is a shot that protects against Tdap’ is a shot that protects against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (AKA pertussis)cough (AKA pertussis)

Tetanus is caused by a bacteria that Tetanus is caused by a bacteria that can enter your body through a small can enter your body through a small cut in the skin. It cannot be spread cut in the skin. It cannot be spread from person to personfrom person to person

FluFlu

Did you know that the regular flu Did you know that the regular flu kills around 36,000 people every kills around 36,000 people every year, making it one of the year, making it one of the top 10 top 10 killerskillers in the U.S.?!? in the U.S.?!?

Everyone over 6 months of age (this Everyone over 6 months of age (this includes YOU!) should get a flu includes YOU!) should get a flu vaccine to protect themselves, their vaccine to protect themselves, their family and friends against flufamily and friends against flu

To help stop the spread of To help stop the spread of flu you can also….flu you can also….

Where can I get these Where can I get these shots?shots?

Visit your doctorVisit your doctor Tell your parents that you may Tell your parents that you may

be able to get FREE shots be able to get FREE shots through the through the Vaccines for Vaccines for Children ProgramChildren Program

If you don’t have health If you don’t have health insurance, visit your local health insurance, visit your local health department at department at [ more info here][ more info here] or or call them atcall them at [ enter phone # here][ enter phone # here]

See your doctor for a ‘well’ visit at See your doctor for a ‘well’ visit at least once per yearleast once per year

Get any recommended shotsGet any recommended shots Take information homeTake information home Participate in Preteen Vaccine Week Participate in Preteen Vaccine Week

by by [ more info here][ more info here]

Spread the word, not the Spread the word, not the germs!germs!

Thank you for your time! Thank you for your time!