When you think of needing vaccinations, you think of infants, toddlers or people traveling abroad. But for your employees with teenage children, the beginning of the school year is a perfect time to review and, if necessary, update their child's immunization needs.

There are millions of children between the ages of 11 and 19 who need vaccinations to prevent whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, influenza, meningococcal disease, pneumococcal disease and human papilloma virus infection. It's quite a list.

Chances are, your employees' kids will be one of those millions, so a creative campaign to remind them may be helpful. With all of the other things that might be on parents' minds - like paying tuition, making sure homework gets done and who's picking everyone up from practice - vaccinations might not be top of mind.

So, here's a summary of the Centers for Disease Control's eight recommended immunizations for children ages seven through 18.

For more specific information about each vaccination or the disease it is intended to prevent, you can visit www.immunize.org.

1. Meningitis

There are approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cases of meningococcal disease each year in the United States. While the disease is most common in children younger than one year and in people with certain medical conditions, the proportion of cases in adolescents and young adults has increased in recent years.

The rate of invasive disease among people ages 17 to 20 is about twice that of the general U.S. population.

The meningococcal vaccination is recommended for all children ages 11 through 18, college freshmen who will be or are living in dormitories, and those with certain special medical conditions.

2. Human papilloma virus

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide, with at least 75% of women expected to be infected at some point in their lifetime. HPV is also the causative agent in cervical cancer but can also cause genital and common warts.

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that all adolescent girls complete the series of three HPV shots.

One brand, Gardasil, prevents both cervical cancer and genital warts. Another brand of HPV vaccine, Cervarix, prevents cervical cancer. Adolescent boys, too, can now get the Gardasil brand of the HPV vaccine to prevent genital warts.

3. Chickenpox (Varicella)

If a child has not been previously vaccinated and has not had chickenpox, he should get vaccinated against this disease. The vaccine is given as a two-dose series. Any teenager who was vaccinated as a child with only one dose should get a second dose now.

4. Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap, Td)

Children need a booster dose of Tdap at age 11 or 12. Previously, only a Td booster was recommended, but now it appears that pertussis (also known as whooping cough) immunity from childhood vaccinations wanes after some period of time, resulting in an increase in pertussis infections in early adulthood.

An older child who has already had a Td booster should get a Tdap shot after five years to get the extra protection against pertussis. After that, a Td booster dose is needed every 10 years.

5. Hepatitis A

Anyone can get infected with hepatitis A, including teenagers. Some teens, however, have an even greater chance of getting the disease.

These risk factors include traveling outside the U.S., babysitting or having household contact with a child who was adopted from a foreign country within the last 60 days, being a male who has sex with other males, using illegal drugs, or having a clotting factor disorder or chronic liver disease. Talk to your family physician about this two-dose series of shots.

6. Hepatitis B

Usually a three-dose series, hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all children up to 18. It's recommended for infants beginning at birth. All older children who did not get all the recommended doses of hepatitis B vaccine as an infant should complete their vaccine series as soon as possible.

Most states require hepatitis B vaccine for school entry. Adolescents who are just starting their series will need two or three doses, depending on their age and the brand of vaccine used.

7. Polio

Though Dr. Salk's vaccine in 1955 dramatically reduced the incidence of polio, the disease still exists in parts of Africa and Asia and can easily be imported. If a child has not completed the series of four vaccine doses and he is not yet 18, he should complete it now.

8. Measles, mumps and rubella

This vaccination consists of two doses. Although normally given during infancy, teens should be sure to get vaccinated if they haven't received the full two doses.

Though these recommendations come from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, there are contraindications and precautions for each of these vaccinations.

While there is a great deal of information on the Internet regarding vaccinations, encourage your employees to have a candid conversation with their primary health care provider to make sure that they are doing the right thing for their children.

And for extra credit, make sure your employee wellness plan this fall includes communicating about the importance of getting an annual influenza vaccine.

Flu season, once again, is just around the corner. Vaccination is the most effective measure that can be taken to be protected from what can be a very serious disease. And this year, the 'regular' flu shot is expected to also include protection against H1N1.

Contributing Editor Betty Long is a registered nurse and founder of Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates, a health care advocacy firm that has helped thousands of patients navigate the health care system and saved millions of dollars in health care costs.

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