The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Indian Health Service have jointly launched a campaign to educate American Indian and Alaska Native parents and other caregivers about the importance of a preteen medical check-ups and vaccines.
One goal of this campaign is to encourage parents to take their preteens in for an 11- or 12-year-old check-up, during which the doctor takes a complete medical history, screens for diseases like diabetes, discusses teen issues (such as puberty) and ensures that immunizations are up to date.
Three vaccines are specifically recommended for the preteens: MCV4 (meningitis); Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis or “whooping cough” booster); and for girls, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (protects against cervical cancer). Annual seasonal flu shots and vaccination against H1N1 are also recommended for preteens.
Posters and flyers educating parents about the preteen check-up and preteen vaccines were developed and can be ordered or downloaded from the campaign Web site: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/preteen/aian.
Other campaign activities include outreach to Native media, partnerships with American Indian and Alaska Native organizations that reach parents and healthcare providers and a community-based education project in New Mexico.
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