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What preteens can do to stay healthy. [YOUR NAME AND HERE]. Visit a Doctor. Why do I need to visit a doctor? . 11-and 12-year-olds need to visit a doctor because…. Your body is changing, and this is your opportunity to ask doctors all sorts of questions
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What preteens can do to stay healthy [YOUR NAME AND HERE]
Visit a Doctor Why do I need to visit a doctor?
11-and 12-year-olds need to visit a doctor because…. • Your body is changing, and this is your opportunity to ask doctors all sorts of questions • Learn about eating right, staying active and ways to protect your body, like getting shots (vaccines)
What are vaccines? • Vaccines are a type of medicine that help you build protection (immunity) against some diseases • Before vaccines, many people would get diseases that we rarely see today (e.g. measles and polio) and sometimes even die
How do vaccines work? • A weakened or dead form of the disease germ is injected into the body (but does NOT make you sick) • The body makes “antibodies” to fight these “invaders” • If the actual disease germs ever attack, the “antibodies” are still there to destroy them! NO! NOT AGAIN!
Why do I need to get vaccinated? • There are shots that are especially recommended for 11-and 12-year-olds • If everyone is protected, the germs that cause disease can’t spread from person to person. This is called “herd immunity” • Getting shots protects you, your family, and friends
Ouch! Don’t shots hurt? • Not as much as getting the disease! • Things to do to relax during your shots: • Have someone keep you company • Take a slow deep breath • Focus on something fun • Listen to music • Imagine doing your favorite activity
Chickenpox • Chickenpox is also called varicella • Anyone can get it! • But, it can be very dangerous for preteens, teens and adults True or False: You can get chickenpox from a chicken
Human papillomavirus (HPV) • This vaccine is NOT only for girls! Boys can get it too • Anyone between 9 and 26 years of age can get the vaccine, but it is especially important for 11-and 12-year olds • This vaccine can help prevent cervical cancer in girls (a cancer in the reproductive system) and other cancers in men and women later on in life • It’s very important to get this vaccine, because HPV is a very common disease
Meningococcal • Anyone can catch this disease! • This disease can be spread by sharing saliva (e.g. sharing drinks or kissing). It can also be spread through the air when people sneeze or cough • Some people who catch this disease lose their limbs—arms, fingers and legs may be amputated (cut off). Others become deaf, have brain damage, and some even die
Whooping Cough • Whooping cough is a disease that can make you cough so hard it breaks your ribs! You can be sick for weeks or even months! • In 2010 the whooping cough epidemic got thousands sick and babies died in CA
Did you know?!? For the 2011-2012 school year, all 7th-12th graders will need proof of a whooping cough shot before starting school • For future school years only 7th graders will need the shot for school • Ask your parents to visit shotsforschool.org to learn more
Tetanus • ‘Tdap’ is a shot that protects against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (AKA pertussis) • Tetanus is caused by a bacteria that can enter your body through a small cut in the skin. It cannot be spread from person to person
Flu • Did you know that the regular flu kills around 36,000 people every year, making it one of the top 10 killers in the U.S.?!? • Everyone over 6 months of age (this includes YOU!) should get a flu vaccine to protect themselves, their family and friends against flu
Where can I get these shots? • Visit your doctor • Tell your parents that you may be able to get FREE shots through the Vaccines for Children Program • If you don’t have health insurance, visit your local health department at [ more info here]or call them at[ enter phone # here]
Spread the word, not the germs! • See your doctor for a ‘well’ visit at least once per year • Get any recommended shots • Take information home • Participate in Preteen Vaccine Week by [ more info here]