New Guidelines Emphasize Timely Teen Vaccination

Feb. 1, 2011— -- ABC chief health and medical editor Dr. Richard Besser discussed the latest vaccination schedule updates released by the American Academy of Pediatrics today on "Good Morning America."

"The new vaccination schedule draws more importance to vaccinate teens," Besser said. "Even though our kids may have gotten a vaccine when they were young, we know that as we get older, protection wears off."

More frequent visits to the doctor make it easier for babies to get all of their recommended vaccines. But it's harder to keep up with vaccines as a child gets older, Besser said.

Here are the latest vaccine recommendations for all ages released by the American Academy of Pediatrics:

Hepatitis B vaccine: This vaccine is typically given right after birth. Catch-up vaccinations for children who miss the recommended birth dose should be given on a schedule of 0, 1, and 6 months. The third dose should be given no earlier than 24 weeks old. If your teen did not recieve the hepatitis B vaccine as a baby, they should receive a two-dose combination.