New York City Still in Grip of Flu Season Despite Declining Cases
The city's flu season is far from over, and health officials are urging residents to remain vigilant. According to the latest data, New York City has reported more than 128,000 confirmed flu cases so far this season, with a recent spike of 32,000 cases in December. While new cases have declined somewhat, state officials caution that flu season can be unpredictable and may continue into May.
The city's renewed push for vaccination against the flu comes as the Trump administration has made changes to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's childhood vaccination schedule. The updated schedule deprioritizes flu shots and some other vaccines for high-risk children or those whose parents have engaged in "shared clinical decision-making" with their doctors.
Despite these changes, city health officials say that New York's school vaccination requirements remain unchanged. Healthcare providers are directed to continue their existing immunization practices, and the flu shot is still required for children in daycare and pre-K.
However, state officials warn that the new CDC guidance could have deadly consequences nationwide. "The CDC's new recommendation that only certain children should get the flu vaccine 'could have deadly consequences,' said Dr. Morse. "We reject that guidance."
Public health experts are also sounding the alarm, warning that the move will be counterproductive and erode confidence in immunizations. "At a time when parents, pediatricians and the public are looking for clear guidance and accurate information, this ill-considered decision will sow further chaos and confusion," said Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
For now, city residents are advised to get vaccinated against the flu, despite the recent decline in new cases. "It's not too late for New Yorkers to receive their flu vaccine," Dr. Morse said. The updated flu shot has been shown to prevent serious complications and hospitalizations, making it a crucial tool in protecting public health.
Despite these concerns, city officials remain optimistic that vaccination efforts can still make a difference. With over 4,500 hospitalizations reported for the flu this season, including two child deaths, officials are urging residents to take action before it's too late.
The city's flu season is far from over, and health officials are urging residents to remain vigilant. According to the latest data, New York City has reported more than 128,000 confirmed flu cases so far this season, with a recent spike of 32,000 cases in December. While new cases have declined somewhat, state officials caution that flu season can be unpredictable and may continue into May.
The city's renewed push for vaccination against the flu comes as the Trump administration has made changes to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's childhood vaccination schedule. The updated schedule deprioritizes flu shots and some other vaccines for high-risk children or those whose parents have engaged in "shared clinical decision-making" with their doctors.
Despite these changes, city health officials say that New York's school vaccination requirements remain unchanged. Healthcare providers are directed to continue their existing immunization practices, and the flu shot is still required for children in daycare and pre-K.
However, state officials warn that the new CDC guidance could have deadly consequences nationwide. "The CDC's new recommendation that only certain children should get the flu vaccine 'could have deadly consequences,' said Dr. Morse. "We reject that guidance."
Public health experts are also sounding the alarm, warning that the move will be counterproductive and erode confidence in immunizations. "At a time when parents, pediatricians and the public are looking for clear guidance and accurate information, this ill-considered decision will sow further chaos and confusion," said Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
For now, city residents are advised to get vaccinated against the flu, despite the recent decline in new cases. "It's not too late for New Yorkers to receive their flu vaccine," Dr. Morse said. The updated flu shot has been shown to prevent serious complications and hospitalizations, making it a crucial tool in protecting public health.
Despite these concerns, city officials remain optimistic that vaccination efforts can still make a difference. With over 4,500 hospitalizations reported for the flu this season, including two child deaths, officials are urging residents to take action before it's too late.
I'm not surprised the flu is still going around NYC, it's like the city never really gets ready for winter 
. Seriously though, with all these changes to the vaccination schedule, I'm getting a little worried about what this means for public health. The last thing we need is people getting sick and hospitals overflowing because they didn't get their flu shot 
. Let's just hope people listen to the experts and get vaccinated already! We don't want any more of those poor kids who ended up in the hospital with the flu 
.
. I mean, we think we're getting smarter about all this with vaccines and stuff, but the truth is, our bodies can't always keep up 
. It's like, no matter how healthy we are, we're still susceptible to something that could take us down 
.
. Like, we're trying to protect our kids here, and then we're giving them guidance that could hurt them? It's like, how do we even explain that to ourselves? 
. Get vaccinated, stay healthy, y'know? We can all look out for each other in this 
.
. It seems like they're playing with fire by altering the vaccination schedule 
. And to think that some parents are gonna make their own decisions about what vaccines their kids should get... it's like leaving them to fend for themselves 
. We need clear guidelines and not this back-and-forth 
. The flu shot is still the best defense against the flu, so let's stick with it 
.
. As if we need more chaos and confusion around something as important as immunizations 
.
Like, I get it, we don't wanna overdo it on the vaccines or anything, but do we really need to prioritize which ones to give? And what's gonna happen when parents and pediatricians are all confused about what to do? 
That's like, a whole big mess waiting to happen...
all this drama about vaccine schedules and flu seasons is just causing more harm than good 
! What if parents and doctors don't know what to do? It's going to cause confusion and lead to more cases 
! We should be doing everything we can to stop the spread, not making it easier for the virus to run wild 
. Can we please just stick with what works? 
Need more info from the CDC before makin' changes like this. Vaccination is still the best way to protect yourself and others, fam 
At least in NYC, the school vaccination requirements remain the same, so that's a silver lining 
The CDC's decision on prioritizing vaccines is super concerning 
. What if this new schedule causes more harm than good? 
. Let's hope city officials continue to push for vaccination efforts, especially with cases still rising (but declining) 
flu season is no joke! 
those new CDC guidelines though 
high-risk kids shouldnt have to worry about it 
& docs 
flu shots save lives 
I'm so frustrated with the formatting in these articles 
. And what's up with all the nested paragraphs? It's like they're trying to confuse readers on purpose 
. I need to be able to scan this article quickly and easily, but it's hard when everything is just a big block of text 
.
But seriously, who needs CDC guidance to tell us that flu shots are a good idea? It's not rocket science, folks! 
. Like, we've made so much progress in fighting flu with vaccines and all 
, but it seems like some people just don't get it 
. Newsflash: flu season isn't just a New York thing, it's a national issue 
. Can we just focus on keeping our communities healthy and safe for the next few months? 