Stay Safe This Fall: NYC Health + Hospitals Reminds New Yorkers to Get Their Annual Flu and Covid Shots in Advance of Respiratory Virus Season

Stay Safe This Fall: NYC Health + Hospitals Reminds New Yorkers to Get Their Annual Flu and Covid Shots in Advance of Respiratory Virus Season

Vaccines for flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available at no cost for established patients at all of our hospitals and Gotham Health sites.

New Yorkers can call 844-NYC-4NYC to schedule an appointment and become patients with NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health or go here for walk in hours at our facilities.

Oct 07, 2024

NYC Health + Hospitals today announced this year's updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available for established patients at its hospitals and Gotham Health sites. We encourage all New Yorkers 6 months of age and older to get vaccinated for the flu and COVID-19, which can be administered on the same day and are essential to keeping yourself and your family healthy and safe. Vaccines for flu and COVID-19 are safe, quick, and available at no out-of-pocket cost to patients who are vaccinated at NYC Health + Hospitals facilities and Gotham Health sites. The flu, or influenza, is a serious, highly contagious, and sometimes deadly disease, and the severity of each flu season is unpredictable, making annual vaccination the best defense against illness. COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory infection that may cause severe and even fatal illness, and staying up to date with your vaccinations remains the best defense. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone over the age of six months get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19, especially people at higher risk for severe disease.

Studies show the flu vaccine reduces the risk of illness by between 40 and 60 percent among the overall population. Many people at higher risk from flu are also at higher risk for severe disease from COVID-19. The 2024-2025 updated COVID-19 vaccines offers enhanced protection over the prior vaccine against the current and emerging variants circulating in our communities. In addition, the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine remains available for people between age 60 and 74 years with additional risk factors, all people age 75 years and older and pregnant women between weeks 32 and 36 gestation who are at higher risk of severe disease.

New Yorkers who would like to schedule an appointment or become patients with NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, can call 844-NYC-4NYC. You can also go here to see walk in hours at various NYC Health + Hospital and Gotham Health facilities

"I cannot emphasize enough the importance of being vaccinated: the flu and COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, readily available, and can save your life," said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President andChief Medical Officer Machelle Allen, MD. "The updated vaccines provide the best protection against current strains. I encourage all New Yorkers to do their part-get vaccinated to take care of yourself, your family, and your community."

"Staying up to date with your vaccinations against COVID-19, flu, and RSV remains the surest way to protect yourself and your loved ones," said NYC Health + HospitalsChief Biopreparedness OfficerSyra Madad, DHSc, MSc, MCP, CHEP. "As we enter respiratory virus season, I encourage all who are eligible to get vaccinated to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community, and enjoy the fall season with peace of mind."

Why is it so important to get both a flu and COVID-19 vaccine this year?

• The flu and COVID-19 vaccines have been updated since last year and provide enhanced protection against current variants.
• Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations can reduce the risk of hospitalization and even death.
• Getting infected with the flu can be dangerous and may result in serious illness, hospitalization and even death. During the 2023-2024 flu season in the United States, the CDC estimates the flu likely resulted in 24-75 million illnesses, 15-33 million medical visits, 380,000-900,000 hospitalizations, and 17,000-100,000 deaths.
• COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease and can cause severe illness, hospitalization, and even death. In 2023, more than 916,300 people were hospitalized and more than 75,500 people died from COVID-19.
• Flu vaccination during pregnancy helps protect pregnant people from flu during and after pregnancy and helps protect their infants from flu in their first few months of life.
• Getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine can help protect pregnant people and their baby from serious illness from COVID-19.
• Vaccination against COVID-19 may prevent long-term side effects called Long COVID, which can include a range of symptoms that last for weeks, months, or even years after infection.
• Getting vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19 may also protect the people closest to you, including those who are more vulnerable to serious illness, like babies and young children, older people, and people with certain chronic health conditions.

New Yorkers who would like to schedule an appointment or become patients with NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, can call 844-NYC-4NYC. Check here for a list of walk-in appointments available.

Watch a video message from Dr. Syra Madad explaining why it is important for New Yorkers to get their annual flu vaccine.

For additional information, read the health system's facts on fighting the flu.

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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan-all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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