New Yorkers are being encouraged to speak with their doctors to ensure their vaccinations are up to date.

Vaccinations are designed to enhance the body's natural defenses against disease. By exposing the body to a weakened form of a virus or inert pieces of virus, the body can learn to fight the virus, and prevent the disease. Should the vaccinated individual contract the disease, the effects of the disease are often greatly reduced due to the immunity developed from the vaccination.

"Through aggressive vaccination programs, diseases that once claimed the lives of millions are now largely a thing of the past," said Sanjiv Shah, MD, Fidelis Care's Chief Medical Officer. "However, several infectious diseases persist because some individuals forego recommended vaccinations and boosters, placing themselves and their community at risk."

For many, the choice not to vaccinate is the result of the lack of adequate health insurance.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following schedule of vaccinations, unless an individual has a known medical condition that would make it dangerous to receive the vaccination..

Annual vaccination against the flu is recommended for everyone over the age of six months, including pregnant women.

The recommended series of vaccinations for children under the age of two years includes diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), pneumonia, meningitis, polio, hepatitis B, influenza, chickenpox, measles, mumps, and rubella.

All 11- and 12-year-olds should receive booster vaccinations to protect against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and meningitis. The CDC recommends that all 11 and 12-year-olds receive the vaccine for the human papillomavirus (HPV).

The CDC also recommends that men and women between the ages of 19 and 26 be vaccinated against HPV if they were not vaccinated previously.

Adults over the age of 19 should speak with a doctor to determine whether they need to receive boosters for tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis, varicella (chickenpox), measles, mumps, and rubella.

Individuals over the age of 60 should be vaccinated against zoster (shingles), and those over 65 should be vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia.

Some adults, depending upon age and exposure risks, may require additional vaccinations to protect against diseases such as hepatitis A and B, and meningitis.

By ensuring that as many individuals as possible are protected through immunizations, communities benefit from "herd immunity." While every member of the community may not be completely protected, the chance of an infectious disease gaining a foothold and spreading is greatly reduced as the number of vaccinated individuals increases. Individual vaccinations are extremely important because some members of the community cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. Herd immunity helps protect these individuals by reducing their chance of exposure.