Wellness Tips from Josef Schenker, MD
Welcome to the Wellness Tips blog series presented by Dr. Josef Schenker, Medical Director at Centers Urgent Care. With years of hands-on experience in internal medicine and emergency services, Dr. Schenker offers clear, practical advice to help you take better care of yourself and your loved ones.
Each post in this series tackles an important health topic, offering expert insight and actionable tips. Whether you’re trying to prevent illness, manage a condition, or make sense of medical recommendations, Dr. Schenker is here to help you navigate it all with confidence and ease. Today’s post focuses on a critical area of preventative care—vaccinations.
Vaccinations Guide
In the U.S., vaccine coverage remains fairly strong, but full vaccination rates are slipping. Only 72.8% of children born in 2020–2021 received the complete seven-vaccine series by 35 months, down from 74.4% in 2013–2014. Staying informed and up-to-date matters—now more than ever.
Vaccines are one of the safest and most effective ways to protect ourselves and our communities. Staying informed about which vaccines you need—and when to get them—can make a real difference in your health. That’s why Dr. Josef Schenker is here to break it all down in this simple, easy-to-follow guide. With his help, we’ll walk through the basics, the different types of vaccines, who needs what, and when. Let’s start with how vaccines actually work.
Dr. Josef Schenker Explains The Basics of Vaccination
A vaccine is a medical preparation that helps your immune system recognize and fight certain germs—like viruses or bacteria—before they can make you seriously ill. Think of it as training your body’s defense system, so it’s ready for a real attack later on.
How do vaccines work?
When you get vaccinated, your body is introduced to a safe version of a pathogen—either a weakened, inactivated, or partial form. This triggers your immune system to produce antibodies and “memory cells” without you having to experience the full-blown disease. Josef Schenker, MD further explains. Later, if you’re exposed to the actual virus or bacteria, your body responds quickly and effectively, often preventing illness altogether.
What are vaccines made of?
Vaccines contain carefully chosen ingredients that help ensure safety and effectiveness:
- Antigens: These are the harmless parts of the virus or bacteria that spark your immune response.
- Adjuvants: Substances that enhance your immune response.
- Stabilizers: Help keep the vaccine effective during storage.
- Preservatives: Prevent contamination (e.g., thimerosal, though no longer used in most routine vaccines).
- Dilutants: Usually sterile water or saline that is used to prepare the final dose.
Why do we get vaccinated?
Josef Schenker, MD emphasizes that vaccines do more than protect just one person—they play a vital role in keeping entire communities healthy. Here’s how:
- To prevent serious illness
Vaccines help your immune system recognize and fight infections so you’re less likely to get severely sick or need hospitalization. - To reduce the spread of disease
When more people are vaccinated, it’s harder for diseases to spread—especially in places like schools and workplaces. - To protect those who can’t be vaccinated
Babies, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems rely on others being vaccinated to stay safe. - To eliminate dangerous diseases
Vaccines have already wiped out smallpox and brought other illnesses like polio close to eradication. Keeping up the effort protects future generations.
Getting vaccinated is one of the simplest ways to care for your health—and the health of those around you.
What are the possible side effects of vaccination?
Dr. Josef Schenker explains that when getting vaccinated, one would normally experience some side effects which are mostly mild such as:
- Redness or soreness at the injection site
- Low-grade fever
- Fatigue or mild aches
- Swelling or tenderness
- In rare cases, allergic reactions
Most side effects are short-lived and far outweighed by the long-term protection vaccines provide.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s take a look at the different types of vaccines out there and how they work in unique ways.
Types of Vaccines
Vaccines are developed in several forms, each designed to train the immune system safely and effectively:
- Live-attenuated vaccines: Contain a weakened form of the virus or bacteria that still triggers a strong immune response.
Examples: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), varicella (chickenpox) - Inactivated vaccines: Use a killed version of the virus or bacteria. They often require multiple doses.
Examples: Polio (IPV), Hepatitis A - Subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines: Include only specific parts of the germ (like proteins or sugars) that best stimulate the immune system.
Examples: HPV, Hepatitis B, whooping cough (pertussis) - mRNA vaccines: Teach cells to produce a protein similar to the virus, which triggers an immune response.
Examples: Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines - Viral vector vaccines: Use a harmless virus to deliver instructions to your cells on how to make a piece of the virus.
Examples: Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine - Toxoid vaccines: Protect against harmful toxins produced by bacteria, not the bacteria itself.
Examples: Tetanus, diphtheria
According to Dr. Josef Schenker, different types offer different benefits, and some work better for certain age groups or health conditions. That’s why vaccine schedules are so important.
Josef Schenker, MD, Explains Vaccination Schedules
Your vaccination schedule is like a roadmap for lifelong protection. It outlines which vaccines you need and when to get them for the best protection. These schedules are developed by the CDC based on years of research, disease trends, and safety data.
Healthcare providers across the country rely on CDC guidelines to help ensure people are immunized at the right time. Following the schedule not only protects you but also prevents disease outbreaks in schools, workplaces, and communities.
Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedules by Age
(Per CDC recommendations, 2025)
- Birth:
- Hepatitis B (1st dose)
- Hepatitis B (1st dose)
- 2 Months:
- DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV, Rotavirus
- Hepatitis B (2nd dose)
- 4 Months:
- DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV, Rotavirus (2nd doses)
- DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV, Rotavirus (2nd doses)
- 6 Months:
- DTaP, Hib, PCV, Rotavirus (3rd doses)
- Hepatitis B (3rd dose)
- 12–15 Months:
- MMR, Varicella, Hib, PCV
- Hepatitis A (1st dose)
- 18 Months:
- Hepatitis A (2nd dose)
- Hepatitis A (2nd dose)
- 4–6 Years:
- DTaP, IPV, MMR, Varicella
- DTaP, IPV, MMR, Varicella
- 11–12 Years:
- Tdap, HPV (2-dose series), Meningococcal
- Tdap, HPV (2-dose series), Meningococcal
- 16 Years:
- Meningococcal booster
Adult Immunization Schedules by Age
- 19–26 Years:
- Tdap booster every 10 years
- HPV (if not completed)
- Annual flu vaccine
- 27–49 Years:
- Tdap booster every 10 years
- Flu shot yearly
- COVID-19 vaccine updates as needed
- 50–64 Years:
- Shingles vaccine (start at 50)
- Hepatitis B (if at risk)
- Annual flu shot
- COVID-19 boosters
- 65+ Years:
- Pneumococcal (PCV20 or PCV15 + PPSV23)
- Shingles vaccine
- Annual flu vaccine
- Tdap booster (if not up to date)
Josef Schenker, MD reiterates that keeping up with these schedules helps build immunity over time and lowers the risk of severe disease. If you’re unsure about your vaccination status, talk to your healthcare provider—they can review your records and recommend the next steps.
Josef Schenker, MD, Answers Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, most states across the United States require children to receive vaccines like MMR, DTaP, polio, and varicella before attending school. While some exemptions exist, staying vaccinated helps protect not just the child but the entire classroom from preventable disease outbreaks.
Yes. Vaccines greatly reduce your risk but don’t guarantee 100% immunity. If you do get infected, symptoms are typically milder. Vaccination helps prevent complications, hospitalizations, and the spread of illness—making it a vital tool in disease control and prevention.
Yes. While serious allergic reactions are very rare, they can occur. Most people only experience mild side effects like low-grade fever. Healthcare providers are trained to manage reactions, and it’s important to share any allergy history before receiving a vaccine.
The 7-vaccine series refers to the recommended immunizations for young children, including DTaP, IPV, MMR, Hib, Hep B, varicella, and PCV. Completing this series by age two helps ensure strong protection during early development when children are most vulnerable to infections.
Stay Protected: Get Your Vaccinations Today
Vaccines are more than just routine shots—they’re one of the best investments you can make in your long-term health. By staying up to date on your vaccinations, you not only protect yourself from serious illness, but you also help protect those who may not be able to get vaccinated themselves.
At Centers Urgent Care, we make it easy to stay on top of your vaccinations. With convenient locations across New York and a dedicated team led by Dr. Josef Schenker, you’ll receive expert care in a friendly, professional setting. Whether you need routine immunizations or help during a health emergency, our team is here to help you stay well. Walk in today or schedule your visit—because good health starts with prevention.
About Josef Schenker, MD:
Dr. Josef Schenker, a board-certified expert in internal medicine and emergency medical services, brings extensive experience and compassion to his role as Medical Director and Partner at Centers Urgent Care. With leadership in SeniorCare Emergency Medical Services and as an Attending Physician at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Dr. Schenker oversees critical care and treatment protocols across varied medical needs. His dedication extends to chairing NYC REMAC, ensuring adherence to state standards in emergency medical procedures. At Centers Urgent Care, Dr. Schenker's expertise ensures prompt, high-quality emergency care for patients of all ages, supported by state-of-the-art facilities including a dedicated pediatric suite.