Don’t be surprised if the office looks emptier than usual: Flu season in New York has officially arrived.
More than 14,500 lab-confirmed cases of the virus were reported in the last week of November, up 80% from the previous week, according to the latest data from the state Department of Health. Nearly 800 New Yorkers were hospitalized with the flu that week, up 93% from the week before.
State officials are urging New Yorkers to get vaccinated against the flu, as well as against COVID and RSV, as they prepare to gather with friends and family for the winter holidays.
"We expect a more severe flu season due to circulating strains of the virus compared to last year,” state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Gathering with loved ones is what this season is all about,” McDonald continued. “Vaccines ensure we have the best protection."
About 3.4 million New Yorkers had gotten their flu shots for the season as of mid-November, a slight drop from the same period last year, when 3.5 million flu shots had been given out statewide.
State data shows COVID vaccination has also dropped 30% so far this season compared with the same period last year.
A period of confusion over access to the shots ensued this fall amid a shift in federal guidance. Gov. Kathy Hochul has since issued and repeatedly extended an executive order allowing pharmacies to administer the shots to all children older than 3.
A new regional public health collaborative that includes New York has also issued its own COVID-19 vaccine guidance, which recommends the shots for those six months and older.
There were 1,948 confirmed cases of COVID in New York the last week of November, a slight dip from the week before. RSV, meanwhile, is on the rise. There were 2,200 cases reported statewide the last week of November, up 17% from the previous week.
According to the state, there have been 13 respiratory disease outbreaks in hospitals so far this season and 15 in nursing homes. But no pediatric deaths from COVID, the flu or RSV have been reported in New York this season so far.
