Back-to-school shots: What's required this year

According to Dr. Allen Mask, two shots are required for school, and the other two could be life-saving.

Once a baby is born, a family's pediatrician typically keeps them on a steady schedule of schedule of immunizations up through six years of age.

According to state health director Dr. Elizabeth Tilson, for adolescents, it's incredibly important to be updated on immunizations as well, because there are some new infections that adolescents are at higher risk for.

Dr. Tilson says the Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with the North Carolina Pediatric Society and the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians to increase awareness of preteen vaccinations.

Two vaccines are required by schools for 11 to 12 year olds -- the Meningococcal conjugate vaccine, which protects against the disease meningitis, and TDAP to help prevent Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis.

Also, ask your doctor about the serogroup B vaccine against meningitis and whether it too is recommended for your child.

Two strongly recommended shots are the seasonal flu vaccine and the HPV vaccine, which is intended to prevent cancers caused by the human papilloma virus, which is sexually transmitted.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 14 million people, including teens, are infected with HPV every year. Dr. Tilson says getting the shot at age 11 to 12 is recommended.

"That is when we find the vaccine is much more effective in preventing infections with the virus -- and preventing against cancer," said Dr. Tilson. "So it's a really important vaccine to get long before any sexual activity happens."

The HPV vaccine is recommended for ages 9 to 14 with two doses about 6 to 12 months apart. If after 14 years of age, three doses are recommended. The flu vaccine is available between mid-August and September.

Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed July as Adolescent Immunization Awareness Month with the purpose to ensure that all school-age children are protected from vaccine-preventable disease.