Recommended Clinical Preventive Services for Adolescents

The clinical preventive services currently recommended for adolescents fall into three main categories:

1. Immunizations are shots to prevent against commonly known diseases. These include chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, the flu, Hepatitis A and B, HPV, pneumonia, and a certain type of meningitis. For the full list of specific immunizations, see the "Recommended Clinical Preventive Services for Adolescents" section below.
2. Screening tests are examinations or lab work done to find diseases or conditions early, when they are easier to treat. Recommended screenings for adolescents include measuring height and weight, body mass index and obesity, blood pressure, vision and hearing, and screening for high cholesterol, anemia, tuberculosis, depression, drug and alcohol use, cervical abnormalities (for young women), Hepatitis B, HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. The list below includes more details.
3. Counseling services include discussions about a variety of health issues including skin cancer, tobacco and other substance use, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Many of these services are recommended for all adolescents, while some services depend on a teen’s age, sex, or personal health history. As a result, health care providers may recommend that some adolescents receive certain services more or less frequently than others. Some services are recommended each year, such as a flu shot, while others are done just once. Talk with your adolescent’s health care provider to discuss when and how often young people should receive these services.

Recommended Clinical Preventive Services for Adolescents

Immunizations/Shots

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Flu (influenza)
• Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
• Hepatitis A (HepA)
• Hepatitis B (HepB)
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY)
• Pneumococcal (PCV13 and PPSV23)
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap)

Screenings

• Alcohol use
• Anxiety
• Blood pressure
• Cervical dysplasia (cervical cancer)
• Chlamydia and gonorrhea
• Depression and suicide risk
• Drug use
• Dyslipidemia
• Growth (height and weight)
• Hearing
• Hepatitis B
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Obesity
• Tuberculosis
• Vision

Counseling and Interventions

• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
• Skin cancer
• Tobacco use

Sources: Advisory Committee in Immunization Practices, American Optometric Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and United States Preventive Services Task Force