*New Immunization Requirement for Rising High School Seniors* 

North Carolina law now requires all rising 12th graders get a meningococcal vaccine booster before starting 12th grade. Parents will need to provide a copy of their child’s immunization record showing proof of the meningococcal vaccine before the first day of school in August. Don’t wait, vaccinate! 

Vaccines required for teens and tweens by North Carolina law include: 

• Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) 
• Meningococcal (meningitis) 

More information on these two vaccines is listed in the next section. 

Vaccines recommended for adolescents who have not already had them or who have not completed the series are: 

• Hepatitis A 
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) 
• Influenza (flu) – yearly 
• Hepatitis B 
• Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) 
• Varicella (chickenpox) 

Check with your child's doctor to make sure that your child is up to date on all their vaccines. If your child does not have a doctor, please call one of the Health & Human Services locations listed at the bottom of this page make an appointment. Ask about vaccine charges and eligibility for special, lower-cost programs. 

For more information: 

• Protect your Teens and Tweens with these Vaccines 
• Protect your Teens and Tweens with these Vaccines (Español)
   

Wondering which vaccines your child needs?  
Take the immunization quiz

Tdap and Meningococcal Vaccines for Adolescents

*New immunization requirement for rising high school seniors* 

North Carolina law now requires all rising 12th graders get a meningococcal vaccine booster before starting 12th grade. Parents will need to provide a copy of their child’s immunization record showing proof of the meningococcal vaccine before the first day of school in August. Don’t wait, vaccinate! 

North Carolina law states:   

• all children entering the 7th grade must have a Tdap booster and one dose of meningococcal vaccine 
• all children entering the 12th grade must have a booster dose of meningococcal vaccine 

Tdap vaccine protects against whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus and diphtheria. Childhood vaccines to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough can wear off over time, so a booster is needed to stay protected. 

Meningococcal vaccine protects against four types of meningococcal disease, which can cause blood infections and meningitis. Meningitis is an infection of the fluid around the brain and spinal cord. 

Parents should: 

• Talk to your child's doctor to find out if your child needs a Tdap booster or a meningococcal vaccine. 
• Make sure your child gets their Tdap booster and meningococcal vaccine before your child starts 7th grade  
• Make sure your rising high school senior gets their meningococcal vaccine booster before starting 12th grade. 
• Get a copy of your child's shot record to provide to the school. 
• Make sure your child is up to date on all their vaccines and their yearly checkup. 

If your child does not have a doctor, please call one of the Health & Human Services locations. 

 
For more information: 

• Parents of Rising 7th-Graders  (English and Spanish) 
• Parents of Rising 12th Graders (English and Spanish) 

Adults need immunizations too!  Over time, protection from childhood vaccines can fade or you may need protection against new or different diseases.  Keeping up to date on your vaccines helps you stay healthy and helps protect those around you who may have a harder time fighting disease – such as young children, older adults and those with long term medical conditions. 

Immunizations for adults include: 

• Influenza (flu) – yearly 
• Chickenpox 
• Meningococcal (meningitis) 
• HAV (hepatitis A) 
• HBV (hepatitis B) 
• MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) 
• Shingles (people over 50) 
• PPV (pneumococcal) (people over 65 or with long term health problems) 
• PCV13 (pneumococcal)  (people over 65 or with long term health problems) 
• HPV (human papilloma virus)  (people under age 26) 
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) (everyone needs one dose and women need one dose each time they are pregnant) 

Which vaccines you may need depends on your health, lifestyle, work, travel and which vaccines you had as a child. Talk with your doctor about which vaccines you may need. If you do not have a doctor, you can call a Human Services immunization location to make an appointment. Ask about vaccine charges when you make your appointment. There is a charge for most adult vaccines. 

Wondering which vaccines you need?
Take the immunization quiz

WCHHS provides gives childhood immunizations required by the state of North Carolina, including: 

• DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis), 
• HBV (hepatitis B), 
• Hib (haemophilus B), 
• IPV (inactivated polio vaccine), 
• PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine) 
• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), 
• Var (chickenpox) 

Recommended childhood immunizations given by WCHHS include: 

• HAV (hepatitis A) 
• Rotavirus 
• HPV (human papilloma virus) 
• Influenza (flu) – yearly 

Keeping your child up to date on immunizations is good for their health. Check with your child's doctor if you are not sure if your child is up to date on their vaccines. If your child does not have a doctor, call one of the Health & Human Services  locations listed at the bottom of this page to make an appointment. Ask about vaccine charges and eligibility for special, lower cost programs. 

Learn about Flu Vaccination 

Clinic E of the Public Health Center  provides foreign travel immunizations and counseling for people traveling outside the U.S. by appointment only. There is a charge for foreign travel vaccinations. You can get a malaria prescription for an additional fee. Call for an appointment and costs. 

Public Health Center (Sunnybrook – Clinic E)

10 Sunnybrook Rd., Raleigh

Call 919-250-3900 to make an appointment. 

Yellow Fever Vaccine

The yellow fever vaccine offered by Wake County Public Health is called YF-VAX^®.

  
People who may NOT get yellow fever vaccine: 

• Children under 9 months of age 

• Women who are breastfeeding, unless they are willing to stop for at least 14 days after getting Stamaril^® 

• People whose immune system is not working well 

• People who are allergic any part of the vaccine 

• People with thymus dysfunction 

• People who are sick when they come in for their vaccine 

To get yellow fever vaccine through Wake County Public Health you must: 

• Call 919-250-3900 to make a travel appointment. 

• You will be assessed for eligibility at that time. 

• Read the appropriate Information and Consent Form 

More information about travel vaccines:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also give detailed information about foreign travel immunizations. 
• Going to the American Tropics (Caribbean)? (CDC) 
• Were you recently in the American Tropics (Caribbean)? (CDC) 
• What to know before you go (prevent bug bites)  (CDC) 

You must be seen by a civil surgeon before getting immunizations required for immigration. Immunizations for immigration purposes are offered by appointment only. Please ask  about the cost of vaccines when you make your appointment. For more information about immigration visit United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.  
 

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
• NC Department of Health and Human Services 
• Immunization Action Coalition 
• Wondering which vaccines you need? Take the immunization quiz. 

• Protect your Teens and Tweens with these Vaccines (English) 
• Protect your Teens and Tweens with these Vaccines (Español) 
• Parents of Rising 7th-Graders  (English and Spanish)
• Parents of Rising 12th Graders (English and Spanish)
• Older Children and Teens Need Vaccines Too (CDC)
• ¡Los niños más grandes y los adolescentes también necesitan vacunas! (CDC)
• Healthy Traveling