Seasonal Flu - NYC Health

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Seasonal Flu (Influenza)

Go to: Vaccination | Symptoms | Transmission | Treatment | Prevention | Risk Groups

Flu (influenza) is a contagious respiratory illness that causes symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat and body aches. It is most common during the fall and winter months. Every year, about 2,000 New Yorkers die of seasonal flu and pneumonia, which can develop as a complication of the flu.

Annual vaccination is the best way to protect against the flu. You can receive the flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines, including the COVID-19 and RSV vaccines.

Find a Flu Vaccination Site on the NYC Vaccine Finder

Vaccination

Flu vaccines are safe and the best way to protect yourself against getting sick. Getting a flu vaccine reduces your risk of getting the flu and reduces your risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death if you do get it.

The CDC recommends that most people get the flu vaccine in September or October. People can continue to be vaccinated as long as the flu is circulating in the community, even in January or later.

Who Should Get Vaccinated

Everyone ages 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every year, even if they have received a flu vaccine or had the flu in prior seasons.

It is especially important to get vaccinated if:

You are at higher risk for severe illness, hospitalization and death from the flu. This includes young children, older adults, pregnant people and people with certain underlying medical conditions.

You are a health care worker or caregiver for or have close contact with people who are in a high-risk group.

See High-Risk Groups for more information.

Children in school or day care may be required to get a flu vaccine in NYC.

Nearly everyone should get a flu vaccine. However, if you are currently sick, have a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome or have a history of an severe allergic reaction to the flu vaccine or any ingredient in it, talk to your provider before getting a vaccine.

Where to Get Vaccinated

Flu vaccines are widely available at doctor’s offices, pharmacies, community health clinics and through employer-sponsored programs. Most health insurance plans cover flu vaccination without a co-pay or other fees.

New Yorkers with no or limited health insurance can get low- to no cost vaccines, including at NYC H+H sites. Find a flu vaccine on the NYC Vaccine Finder.

About the Vaccines

The flu vaccine is usually given by an injection (shot), but there is also a nasal spray flu vaccine. There are many flu vaccine options. Different vaccines are approved for use in people in different age groups. In addition to the standard dose, there are three flu vaccines recommended for people 65 years and older. If you have questions about which vaccine is best for you, talk to your doctor.

The flu vaccines are very safe. Side effects are usually mild and may include soreness, redness, and swelling where the shot was given, headache, fever, nausea, muscle aches and fatigue.

Flu vaccines are made using killed flu viruses (for inactivated vaccines), or without flu virus at all (for recombinant vaccines). You cannot get the flu from a flu vaccine.

Go to: Vaccination | Symptoms | Transmission | Treatment | Prevention | Risk Groups

Symptoms and Testing

Flu symptoms usually start to show one to four days after being exposed to the virus. Most people are sick for a few days.

Typical symptoms include fever, fatigue, chills, headache, body aches, cough, runny or stuffy nose, and sore throat. Intestinal symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea, are possible but less common.

Flu sometimes leads to serious complications, such as pneumonia, hospitalization or death.

Flu symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19.

If you have symptoms, get tested for flu and COVID-19 right away so you can start treatment if eligible. Many doctors’ offices, clinics, urgent care centers and pharmacies offer testing for COVID-19, flu and other respiratory viruses in one test.

Go to: Vaccination | Symptoms | Transmission | Treatment | Prevention | Risk Groups

Transmission (Spread)

Flu is very contagious and easily spreads through contact with someone who is sick. The virus spreads mainly by droplets produced when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes or talks. People can become sick if these droplets or infected mucus or saliva enter their eyes, nose or mouth.

People can spread the virus up to a day before they have symptoms and when they are sick. Usually, people are more contagious in the first three days of illness.

If you have symptoms of flu or test positive for the virus, you should stay home and take steps to avoid spreading the virus to others. See Prevention for more information.

Go to: Vaccination | Symptoms | Transmission | Treatment | Prevention | Risk Groups

Treatment and Care

Most people recover from the flu on their own, but treatment with antiviral medicine is available for people at increased risk of severe illness and complications from flu. If you have flu, contact your provider right away to see if you should get treatment, as treatment works better the sooner it begins.

Everyone who has flu should rest and drink plenty of liquids. You can consider over-the-counter medications that you normally take to reduce symptoms such as fever. People 18 and younger should not take aspirin or aspirin-containing products, such as Alka Seltzer® or Pepto-Bismol. Aspirin can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome in young people with flu. Talk to your provider if you have questions about what medicines to take.

You should call a health care provider if you experience emergency symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or severe weakness or muscle pain. If your child is sick, call their provider if they have any of the following:

Signs of dehydration, such as a dry mouth or little urine (less-wet diapers)

A fever that lasts more than three days or stays above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), or any fever If they are younger than 3 months old

Unusual fussiness, poor feeding or sleeplessness.

If you are unable to reach a provider, go to an urgent care center or an emergency room.

For adults or children with difficulty breathing (in young children, this may appear as rapid breathing, grunting, nostrils flaring or using neck muscles to breathe), a pale or blue color around the lips or mouth, confusion, severe dehydration, or other concerning symptoms, call 911 or go to a nearby hospital.

Go to: Vaccination | Symptoms | Transmission | Treatment | Prevention | Risk Groups

Prevention

In addition to getting vaccinated, follow these tips to help avoid getting and spreading flu:

Wear a well-fitting mask in public indoor spaces and crowded places, and when you are sick and unable to separate from others. Wear a high-quality mask, such as an N95, a KN95 or a KF94, for better protection.

Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue. Then wash your hands.

Cover Your Cough Poster (PDF)

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Avoid close contact with others when you are sick. Stay home from work and keep children who are sick home from day care and school.

Clean frequently touched surfaces (such as door and sink handles), especially when you or someone in your household is sick.

Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer often. Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is ideal.

Wash Your Hands Poster for Kids (PDF)

Wash Your Hands Poster for Adults (PDF)

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Wash Your Hands Poster for Kids (Observant) (PDF)

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Wash Your Hands Poster for Adults (Observant) (PDF)

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Keep your hands away from your face and avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

Improve ventilation such as by opening windows and using a portable air cleaner, or gather outdoors.

If you feel sick, or test positive for flu, stay home until, for at least 24 hours, your symptoms are improving and you have not had a fever without using fever-reducing medicines. You can then resume usual activities like work and school, but wear a well-fitting mask for the next five days as you still may be contagious.

Go to: Vaccination | Symptoms | Transmission | Treatment | Prevention | Risk Groups

High-Risk Groups

Anyone can get very sick from the flu and have serious complications. However, the following groups are more likely to have severe illness, be hospitalized, or even die from the flu:

Children younger than 5, especially those under 2

People age 65 and older

Pregnant people and people up to two weeks after the end of pregnancy

People with certain health conditions, including:

Asthma, emphysema or any other chronic lung diseases

Heart, kidney or liver disease

Blood disorders, such as sickle cell anemia

Endocrine disorders, such as diabetes

Metabolic disorders

Weakened immune system, from illness or medication

Neuromuscular disorders that interfere with breathing or the discharge of mucus

Long-term aspirin therapy in people under 19

Obesity (a Body Mass Index of 40 or higher)

Having had a stroke

People living in nursing homes or other care facilities

Certain racial or ethnic groups, including Black, Latino, and American Indian and Alaskan Native persons

For more information, visit CDC: People at Higher Risk of Flu Complications

Additional Resources

Older Adults Should Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19, Flu and RSV (PDF)

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What You Need To Know About COVID-19, Flu and RSV (PDF)

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Brochure: The Flu Is Here: Get the Vaccine, Not the Flu (PDF)

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CDC: Influenza (Flu)

More Information

Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination Events

Influenza Information for Providers

Immunization Clinics