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COVID-19

NYC Health + Hospitals Advises New Yorkers to Receive Annual Flu and COVID-19 Vaccinations

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

New Yorkers are urged to get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 as the 2025-2026 updated vaccines become available. The updated vaccines provide enhanced protection against current variants circulating in the communities and can reduce the risk of hospitalization and even death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during the 2024-2025 flu season in the United States, the flu likely resulted in 47-82 million illnesses, 21-37 million medical visits, 610,000-1.3 million hospitalizations, and 27,000-130,000 deaths. Similarly, COVID-19 has caused severe illness, hospitalization, and even death, with over 380,000 people hospitalized and over 44,000 people dying from COVID-19 in 2024. Vaccination against flu and COVID-19 can protect pregnant people from flu during and after pregnancy and help protect their infants from flu in their first few months of life. Getting vaccinated may also prevent long-term side effects called Long COVID and protect vulnerable individuals such as babies and young children, older people, and people with certain chronic health conditions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The New York Health and Hospitals (NYC Health + Hospitals) has announced the availability of the 2025-2026 updated influenza and COVID-19 vaccines for patients at its hospitals and Gotham Health facilities across the city.
  • All New Yorkers 6 months of age and older are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19, as these vaccines can reduce the risk of hospitalization and even death.
  • The vaccines are available at no cost to established patients at all NYC Health + Hospitals and Gotham Health sites, and appointments can be scheduled by calling 844-NYC-4NYC.
  • The flu and COVID-19 vaccines have been updated since last year and provide enhanced protection against current variants circulating in the communities.
  • Vaccination against flu and COVID-19 can protect pregnant people from flu during and after pregnancy and help protect their infants from flu in their first few months of life.
  • Getting vaccinated may also prevent long-term side effects called Long COVID and protect vulnerable individuals such as babies and young children, older people, and people with certain chronic health conditions.

Statistics:

  • The flu likely resulted in 47-82 million illnesses, 21-37 million medical visits, 610,000-1.3 million hospitalizations, and 27,000-130,000 deaths in the United States during the 2024-2025 flu season (CDC estimate).
  • Over 380,000 people were hospitalized and over 44,000 people died from COVID-19 in 2024 (CDC estimate).
  • The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine is 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.

Sources:

  • NYC Health + Hospitals (2025) - NYC Health + Hospitals Advises New Yorkers to Receive Their Annual Flu and COVID-19 Vaccinations
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024) - Estimated influenza illnesses, medical visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States during the 2024-2025 flu season
  • NYC Health + Hospitals (2024) - Fighting the Flu Facts

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