Vaccines for Teens: Some States' Rates Lag Aug. 20, 2010 - More teens are getting their recommended vaccinations, but rates are still below target levels, the CDC reports.

There are two recommended vaccines for all teens:

• One dose of menigococcal meningitis vaccine (MenACWY)
• One dose of the tetanus/diphtheria/whooping cough vaccine (Tdap)

One more vaccine is recommended for girls: three doses of a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, to protect against cervical cancer and genital warts. Boys who want protection against genital warts may also get the vaccine, but it's not an official recommendation.

Are kids getting their recommended vaccinations? The overall news is good.

Vaccination rates are up:

• Tdap rates are up 15% to about 56% of all U.S. teens.
• Meningitis vaccination rates are up 12% to about 54% of all U.S. teens.
• Rates for HPV vaccination went up about 9% to about 27% of all U.S. teenage girls.

More than 60% of teens received all three of the recommended vaccines in four states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

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