Vaccines for teenagers

These vaccinations are routinely available on the NHS for teenagers:

Teenage booster (Td/IPV)

Protects against: tetanus, diphtheria and polio.
Given at: between ages 13 and 18.
More on the Td/polio booster

Cervical cancer (HPV) vaccination

Protects against: human papillomavirus, which has been shown to cause cervical cancer in women.
Given at: 12-13 (girls only) and also, for the time being, to girls aged between 13 and 18 as part of a catch-up programme.
More on the cervical cancer vaccine

Some teenagers are also advised to have the following non-routine vaccinations on the NHS if they're in an 'at risk' group.

Meningitis (MenC) vaccine

Protects against: meningitis C (meningococcal group C).
Who needs it: teenagers, especially those leaving home to go to college or university, should be vaccinated against meningitis C if they didn't have this vaccination as a child.
Given: before going to university, or as soon as possible after starting.
More on the MenC jab

MMR vaccine

Protects against: measles, mumps and rubella (German measles).
Who needs it: teenagers leaving home to go to college or university should be vaccinated with MMR if they missed out on this vaccination or didn’t complete the full course (two doses of MMR) as a child.
Given: before going to university or as soon as possible after starting.
More on the MMR jab

Flu vaccine

Protects against: flu.
Who needs it: teenagers should have an annual flu vaccination if they're in one of the 'at-risk' categories. For example, if they have diabetes, or asthma that requires inhaled steroids, or a serious long-term condition, such as kidney, liver or heart disease. Also, teenagers who take medication that affects their immune system, such as steroid tablets.
Given: every year starting from October/November.
More on the flu jab

Hepatitis B vaccine

Protects against: hepatitis B.
Who needs it: teenagers who are injecting drug users, using crack cocaine, smoking heroin or likely to progress to injecting drug use; those living with injecting drug users; the sexual partners of injecting drug users; teenagers who change sexual partner frequently; teenagers travelling for extended periods to places where the disease is more common, for instance southern and Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia. Also, teenagers with certain long-term kidney or liver conditions, or those receiving blood products. 

Given: before going to university or as soon as possible after starting (three doses of vaccine are given initially over a short period, then a fourth dose after 12 months).
More on the hepatitis B jab