11 Year Old Well Visit and Vaccines

I will not be getting my 11 year old the shots for HPV or hep A this year, but will see about getting them individually later on as he gets a little older. I personally do not like giving my kids several shots in one visit because if there is a reaction you don't know which shot it was to, and since some are a series it is important to know that. I myself never got the HPV vaccine.

First of all, the tetanus shot doesn't hurt. Some people get some pain and stiffness several hours later, but I tell my patients to drop down and knock out 10 pushups to work it into the muscle and they won't have any problem.

As far as the Meningococcal vaccine, I've not heard of any side effects among my Soldiers aside from a mild headache, which is easily treated with motrin.

HPV was said to sting a bit, but that is because it used to be given sub cutaneously (SC). Any vaccine given SC is going to sting because that area is highly innervated. But anymore, it's given intermuscularly (IM), right into the muscle, and stings a whole lot less. Still, there may be a teeny bit of burning at the vaccine site for a minute or so.

All of these vaccines are quick, administered IM with teeny tiny needles. The dose is 1ml/cc or less, which is a very tiny amount. Let your son know that it will be over quickly, and, if you have an ipod or mp3 player with headphones, have him put on some music nice and loud. The music actually makes the vaccinations hurt less because his nervous system is focused on what he's hearing. Kind of a neat trick I'd suggest to anyone with nervous kiddoes. Also, if he's a bit skinny, like my own boys, ask that the vaccines be administered in his thighs instead of his skinny little arms.

ETA: Sigh. There's always someone who will give completely incorrect advice. Please know that HPV, though very treatable, is NOT curable. Once you have HPV, you have it for life.

He is just 11.

My daughter (20) did not get the meningitis vaccine and tetanus booster until she registered for college which was a requirement. I am ok with those shots.

We opted out of the HPV and I am not on here to start a controversy but you have some time to reflect and research HPV vaccine before you get it, if you and your child choose to get it.

Does he get a chicken pox booster? I know around here they started a booster of that one around 10-11. My daughter was one of the first to get the chicken pox vaccine years ago, she still got the pox, a light case which eliminated her from getting the booster.

I always gave a dose of Motrin or something similar before vaccines.

Best wishes and enjoy your Froyo!

I think you can leave some of the Q&A to the nurse and the doctor. You're already nervous, and your son may be picking up on that. At 11, you want him to start learning to ask questions of his health care providers. In fact, it may be time for you to be out of the room at least for part of the exam. By this age, my son didn't want me there for everything - and I certainly got my questions and points across beforehand as well as got info afterwards. All the info is available to me because technically my son had no privacy rights, so I was comfortable with giving him the semblance of privacy.

Good advice below on certain shots. Christy Lee has great specifics.

I cannot believe someone would say that HPV is curable! What??? Get the vaccine, or don't, but make your decision based on facts and not rampant blogs by people with an agenda and a whole bunch of misinformation. Here's the link from the CDC - HPV is NOT treatable at all (only SOME of the conditions that result from it), and it can lead to cancer. So the vaccine, as always, is seen as a much smarter choice. Same as all the other vaccines. Good Lord - the things some people will say! http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv-and-men.htm

Note on the HPV shot: It's not necessary. You may decide it's a good idea which is great, but research it. It only protects against a few strains of HPV. So your son can still very likely get HPV with unprotected sex even if he's been vaccinated for it. Also, it is new and not well-researched and has had many side effects including death for some. I think all deaths were girls though. HPV is easy to recover from for young bodies, it often clears on it's own, it does not always lead to cervical cancer, and HPV is curable and easy to spot in exams early on, especially now that the link to cancer is well-known. So many think the risk is not worth the benefit. But if you feel the vaccine is safe and some protection is good, then that's a good decision.

Whatever you decide, space the shots out to avoid compound effects. Or just tell him, "You'r getting __shots, it's gonna hurt like hell but only for a few seconds, and then we're having ice cream (froyo like you're doig is great). No guff." Like I did with mine :) They still cried and carried on a bit, but you know. Whatever. Last batch (we delayed them until older ages for my second two so one was 7 and one was 5) they were like, "It didn't hurt THAT bad, mom." Because I made it sound worse than it was going to be. But my kids have personalities that jibe with that.

Talk to the doctor about the HPV vaccine. Don't get your information online because there's a ton of misleading and just plain false information out there.

Our son got his HPV vaccines this year. They were the most painful of the bunch (Same group, I believe. The nurse gave around four shots that visit, one right after the other.), so give your son some Advil before you even get there. Other than just the usual pain with the injection and soreness afterward, we saw zero side effects. Nothing remotely scary, just typical post-immunization soreness. He knows he got this one as cancer prevention and was good with that.

So, my advice is to do a little more research before the appt.

This is my plan...the Dtap booster at the 11 year old app and the meningitis at the 12 year old appt. Spreading out vaccines is a lot easier on the body. (did this with my youngest and she never had any redness, swelling, fever, anything like all my boys did when they gave 3-4 at a time). I never plan on giving my kids the HPV vaccine, it is way too new and the adverse effects are plenty. The Hep A, not sure about that one...but I think that one is required by 7th grade. I will postpone it as long as I can and not give it to him with any other shots.

I had the tetnus shot a few years ago and for the remainder of the day just moved my arm A LOT. Didn't have any real pain and it was a breeze.

Don't feel like you have to get them all done at once (or even do them all at all.) There is quite a range for the CDC for these shots...they do not have to be done the minute your son turns 11. If your dr goes on about insurance and not paying for them, go to your county free clinic for the remainder of the vaccines...its free.

I just want to add that in my experience the tetanus shot doesn't really hurt at the time, but the next day or a few days later it hurts like hell. I mean really.

I could barely move my arm the last time, so I'd be prepared for that.

I suggest you are way over thinking this. I suspect your son wants to know the details because you are anxious about it. The exam is no big deal. Trust the doctor to do the right things. He will explain as he goes. He will talk with you before administering vaccines. He will discuss what and why, letting you decide.

AL i've ever said is we have an appointment with the doctor for your 11 yo check up. Then I answer questions. None of the children had many questions. Mostly they were about shots. After all by 11 they had had several check ups and this appointment will be similar to those. The child knew the doctor.

It's been my experience with my family and professionly with other children that the way the child responds is influenced by the parents' and adult's attitude. I trust the doctor. I believe that he will do what's best for my child. I know that he will consider my concerns before doing anything. The doctor will be respectful. I will relax because I trust my doctor. My child will be OK with the appointment because I'm ok with it.

Sounds like you're concerned about vaccinations. Call the office and ask about them. Know that the doctor knows that parents question the need for vaccinations and is prepared to discuss them with you. A well child exam is long enough for discussions, unlike the 10-15 minutes for illness.

Be upbeat and unconcerned with your son. He trusts you and will be able to be less anxious. When he asks about something and you don't know, say you don't know; that you'll find out at the appointment. If you're anxious about anything, call the office and ask.
Really, this exam is not a big deal.

My SD said HPV hurt a friggin lot (direct quote) and she's not usually one to complain about pain or shots. So his mileage may vary. When I don't know, I say that some people have pain, so here's some Motrin in advance and we'll get a treat afterward.

SD had no adverse reaction but she did say her arm was very very sore. (FWIW, DH and BM decided on the HPV for SD and I told DH I'm on the fence about it.)

Did your doctor's office say all these were done at once? Ask which can be done next year -- but please do not put off meningitis until college age; kids in middle and high schools are just as susceptible to it.

The tetanus shot is one to get done ASAP -- our school required it and so do many summer camps and classes. It's just a good idea to have one, even for adults who don't think they'll need it. I keep mine current! It prevents having to worry if you end up stepping on something at the beach in the summer, or cutting your finger when you're out camping or whatever. Even in our church office, I cut myself on an old paper cutter blade that I realized was rusty -- and was very glad I'd had a tetanus shot (so was my doctor!).

You mention that HIS shots make YOU nervous -- typical for us moms! But be careful to keep your nerves from showing as he'll pick up on it. Kids are perceptive that way. It sounds like you have things well covered in terms of distractions and rewards!

My kid never had reactions to vaccines other than occasional soreness in the area. And that wasn't every time. Giving Motrin in advance really helps.

Say "You're going to the doc and going to get shots. You're going to have an exam so the doc can make sure you're growing right". Period.

I would tell him that his worries are okay but he needs to stop. This isn't something that he'll be able to cope well with as an adult and he needs to learn to deal with surprise things now, while you are here to support him and help him through the mine fields of life.

Our 11 year old didn't have but one shot for her 11 year old checkup. Maybe he missed some a while back??? Or was off on his schedule?

I don't honestly remember my daughter getting any shots at her 11 year check up last year. I know this year (12) she will need some because of MD requirements for school, but I don't remember. Sometimes I call ahead and ask, because my kids like to know too.

Most shots don't actually hurt. It's quick and over. The tetanus makes my arm hurt for a few days, but not unbearable.

My kids had the Tetanus about that same age and I think they had the meningitis the following year. They have not have the HPV. They are currently 16 yrs old and have plenty of time to decide. The HPV shot is actually a series of 3 shots several weeks to a couple of months apart (not sure about that time frame). My kids had no reaction to the tetanus or meningitis shots. My son gets Hep A and Hep B boosters due to a bleeding discorder and the medications he has to take and has not had any problems beyond the initial injection.

It's nice to prepare him. Tell him he's getting 3-4 shots, and if he gets only one, he'll be happily surprised.

Frankly, even when the youngers got multiples, the effects were pretty minor. Some soreness and swelling and minor fever (all a good thing since they indicate the immune system is working).

If you're nervous, your kiddo will be too. Nothing to be nervous about.

note some of these shots are optional.. HPV is optional.. and hep A is optinal.. you do not have to get all of these shots and certainly not all in one day..

If you are nervous you will show him to be nervous...
meningitis is for college age kids.. why not wait and see what the dr says... and taking motrin before a shot will nto do anything.. a poke hurts while they are poking you...

One of the things you need to tell your son when he wants to know "everything" is that you aren't the doctor and you don't know everything the doctor will want to include in his 11 year check up.

There is a point where you tell your kid too much. Sometimes it's okay to say "I don't know". Just like when you tell kids to do something and they ask WHY over and over, you CAN say "Because I said so." This thing about "having" to tell him is wrong, R.. YOU are a parent. Parents don't HAVE to tell their kids everything. You really need to change that point of view.