Immunizations: Is your teen up-to-date? Immunizations, also called vaccines, help keep people healthy throughout their lives. Your teenager needs vaccines. Here’s why: ■Their bodies are still growing and need protection. ■Some vaccines work best with the immune system during the teen years. ■Colleges and universities may require students to have certain vaccinations. Shots your teen needs The following vaccines are recommended for teens between 13 and 18 years old: Flu (influenza). The flu virus changes from year to year. Experts recommend that everyone over the age of 6 months receive a flu shot every year, preferably by the end of October. Meningococcal. This series of vaccines protects your teen from meningococcal disease. It can cause serious illness, even death, and can spread easily in crowded places like college dorms. Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). This combined vaccine, also called Tdap, protects against three diseases. Human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV vaccine series prevents six types of cancer. Your teen may need other vaccines too. They may have missed some childhood vaccines, be preparing to travel to another country, or be going to college. Talk with your teen’s provider to make sure all their vaccinations are up-to-date. Vaccination tips Keep this advice in mind: ■Nobody likes needles, but shots are over quickly. Your teen may have mild side effects afterward, like redness and soreness where the needle pierced the skin. A cool, damp cloth placed over that area can ease discomfort. ■Some teens may feel like fainting after a vaccine. To help prevent this, they should sit or lie down while getting the shot and stay seated for 15 minutes afterward. ■Serious side effects from vaccines are rare. ■If your teen has a mild illness, like a cold or a low fever, it’s probably safe for them to get vaccinated. But first, ask their provider just to be sure. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico Drug List updates BCBSNM and the Prime Therapeutics Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee have made changes to the BCBSNM Drug List. To see a complete summary of the changes, go to bcbsnm.com/turquoise-care. Click on Plan Details. Choose Drug Coverage, and click on Preferred Drug List Updates. While there, you can view the entire Drug List and learn more about your drug benefits. You can also call Member Services at 866-689-1523 (TTY: 711) to get this information. 10 Blue for Your Health Winter 2026
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