Meet Goose Mumps

HPV (Human papillomavirus) is a disease that both girls and boys can get. For girls, it can cause cervical cancer when they're older.

Whooping Cough (AKA pertussis) can make you cough so hard that you break your ribs! You can get it when people who have the disease are coughing or sneezing around you. But many people don't even know they have it. Some think it's a cold, but it's much more serious. Ask sick people to cover their cough with their elbow or a tissue.

Chickenpox is usually worse for preteens than little kids. Itchy spots can be on your face, legs, and even between your toes! Sometimes they even leave scars.

Flu is caused by the influenza virus. The flu is much more serious than a cold. Even though there's a yearly vaccine that people can get to protect them, it is still one of the top 10 killers in the U.S. Did you get your flu vaccine this year?

Measles can cause a fever and a rash. Back when the vaccine was not available, this disease killed many people. Now, you may not even see the disease during your lifetime.

Mumps causes cheeks and the jaw to swell. This disease was very common among preteens and little kids. Before the vaccines, over 150,000 people would get it every year. Now, there are only around 200 cases per year because of the vaccine.

Rubella caused serious problems, especially in babies, and many people died because of the disease. Now less than 10 people get it every year in the U.S. because of the vaccine. Most people got their shot when they were a year old. Did you get yours?

Vaccines can help protect you from these serious diseases. Print this page and ask your parents or doctor if you're up-to-date on your shots.

Getting a shot may sting a little, but it's much better than catching any of these nasty diseases!