Teenhood vaccines: Seizing the opportunity

More immunizations are becoming available for this age group, but experts warn that getting them into the arms of adolescents may be harder than it looks.

By Victoria Stagg Elliott, AMNews staff. March 20, 2006.

Certain circumstances lead teenagers to their doctors. Maybe their acne is out of control. Their parents might be concerned about their moodiness or depression. Sometimes there's a broken bone or a bad cold. And, of course, the preparticipation sports physical also is a draw.

In general, though, teens represent a healthy patient population. That's why some health systems, such as Kaiser Permanente of Georgia, have set up mechanisms to ensure that, when these youngsters do cross the doctor's office threshold, the opportunity to provide preventive care does not slip away.

For example, every time a teen sees a physician at one of these Kaiser clinics, his or her immunization record is automatically checked. If it's not up to date, the teen is asked to stop by the pediatrics department on the way out to get whatever vaccinations are missing. There's no charge for any routine shots, and appointments for the sometimes-necessary second or third doses are booked on the spot.

"We really have to immunize them whenever we see them, or it's probably not going to happen," said Catherine Dragstedt, MD, chief of pediatrics at Kaiser Permanente of Georgia.

Such is an example of the herculean efforts experts say are integral to connecting adolescents with these important shots, especially as more for this age group are developed.

"With a wave of new adolescent vaccines coming in the near future, physicians as well as parents must be prepared to maximize their benefits to this vulnerable population," said AMA President J. Edward Hill, MD.