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Over the course of human history, innumerable advances have been made to extend the length and quality of life. It would be difficult to debate the fact that vaccines have saved more lives than any other medical intervention in the past century. Sanitation, especially clean water, may have saved more lives than any other intervention, but sanitation has been mainly in the hands of engineers. Physicians and other health care practitioners, with the help of educators, are responsible for saving millions of lives by vaccinating patients, perhaps as many as 6 million per year. 1

Vaccination is a safe and effective tool in the prevention of serious and deadly infectious diseases. The vaccinations delivered at routine adolescent visits are an integral part of preventing infection, as well as reducing school absenteeism as a result of illness. Current recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices include vaccinating during a single visit at age 11 or 12 years against pathogens including Neisseria meningitidis , which has been shown to cause invasive meningococcal infections; Bordetella pertussis , which has been shown to cause pertussis (whooping cough); and human papillomavirus, which has been shown to cause cervical cancer and genital warts. Additionally, annual influenza vaccination is recommended for adolescents without contraindications to the vaccine. In the present article, the authors summarize current recommendations for adolescent vaccines and their formulations, the infections that they prevent, contraindications to administration, vaccination rates, and the most commonly reported adverse events.

Optimal protection against preventable diseases for adolescents can be provided through routine vaccination. Vaccinations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention can reduce morbidity and mortality associated with influenza, meningococcal, human papillomavirus, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis infections. Most reported adverse reactions to these vaccinations are mild, and the benefits of immunization often outweigh the potential risks. In the present article, the authors discuss adverse events, contraindications, and precautions associated with adolescent immunizations.

Routine immunization provides protection from numerous infectious diseases and substantially reduces morbidity mortality from these diseases. In the United States, vaccination programs focused on infants and children have successfully decreased the incidence of many childhood vaccine-preventable diseases. However, vaccination coverage among adolescents has remained stagnant. Contributing to this lack of coverage is that patients with food allergies might be advised unnecessarily to avoid certain vaccinations, thus potentially causing adverse personal and community health. Studies have shown that food allergies are rarely contraindications to vaccine administration. Most adolescents who avoid vaccination because of food allergy concerns are actually able to receive their appropriate vaccinations. However, there are situations when evaluation by an allergist is recommended. In the present article, the authors provide guidance for physicians when administering vaccines to patients with food allergies to prevent adverse events and improve disease protection.