This Fall is a Good Time to Learn About Certain Diseases

That Can Affect Preteens and Teens 

August 23, 2011

SUGGESTED ANCHOR LEAD:

AS SUMMER WINDS DOWN, MANY MOMS ARE BUSY PREPARING THEIR PRETEENS AND TEENS FOR THE FALL.   BEFORE GETTING BACK INTO THE SWING OF THINGS, MOMS SHOULD LEARN MORE ABOUT CERTAIN DISEASES THAT CAN AFFECT THEIR PRETEEN OR TEEN AND TALK WITH THEIR CHILD'S HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL ABOUT WAYS TO HELP PREVENT THEM. JON DRYDEN HAS MORE: 

ANNOUNCER :

PRETEENS AND TEENS SEE THEIR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS LESS OFTEN AS THEY GET OLDER. HOWEVER, THEY ARE AT RISK FOR CERTAIN DISEASES, INCLUDING HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV), MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE (MENINGITIS), PERTUSSIS (WHOOPING COUGH), TETANUS AND INFLUENZA (ALSO CALLED THE FLU). VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP PROTECT AGAINST THESE DISEASES.  DR.  CHRYSTAL DE FREITAS, PEDIATRICIAN AT SCRIPPS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN SAN DIEGO.

DR. CHRYSTAL DE FREITAS, SCRIPPS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL:

“While many parents vaccinated their children as infants, it is important that they also vaccinate them now that they are preteens and teens to help prevent certain diseases. Moms should take the time now before schedules get busy to talk with their child’s healthcare professional to get more information about these diseases and vaccines that can help prevent them.”