Don’t Miss Out on Time With Family and Friends: NYC Health Department Urges New Yorkers To Get Their COVID-19, Flu, and RSV Vaccines This Fall

Don't Miss Out on Time With Family and Friends: NYC Health Department Urges New Yorkers To Get Their COVID-19, Flu, and RSV Vaccines This Fall

Public Awareness Campaign Encourages New Yorkers to Get Their Annual Shots So They "Don't Miss Out" on Time with Family and Friends This Respiratory Virus Season

Updated COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines Protect Against Strains of the Viruses Predicted to Spread This Season and Are Available for New Yorkers 6 Months and Older

October 21, 2026 - Respiratory virus season is here, and the New York City Health Department is launching a citywide public awareness campaign to encourage New Yorkers to stay healthy so they "Don't Miss Out" on time with family and friends. That means it's time for New Yorkers to roll up their sleeves - and hold their friends' hands - to receive their annual vaccines to protect themselves against COVID-19 and flu. The Health Department also recommends eligible New Yorkers get vaccinated against RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). New Yorkers can find a vaccination site near them by using the City's Health Map.

Respiratory virus season starts in the fall and runs throughout winter and into spring. In fact, flu cases are already increasing earlier this year than in the last two seasons. The viruses spread when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes. This season's updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines are designed to protect against strains of the viruses predicted to spread this season. Vaccination helps protect New Yorkers against the worst outcomes of all three viruses, including health complications, hospitalization, and even death.

Respiratory viruses can be unpredictable and spread year-round, so it's never too late to get vaccinated. Wearing a mask, washing your hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when sick are additional ways to stay safe and protect others during the respiratory virus season.

"Each respiratory virus season, we see increased levels of COVID-19, flu, and RSV infections, and that's why we want all New Yorkers to protect themselves, their family, and their communities by getting their annual shots," said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin. "Respiratory viruses can cause severe health complications and even death. That's why it's so important to speak with your doctor about what vaccines are right for you and don't miss out on any quality time with friends and family."

In anticipation of the season, the NYC Health Department updated its Respiratory Illness Data Portal, which provides New Yorkers with data on COVID-19, flu, and RSV trends across the city. The portal is updated every Thursday with the latest data for all three illnesses, including the number of lab-reported cases, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations.

In September, the NYC Health Department and the New York State Department of Health endorsed respiratory virus immunization recommendations released by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Infectious Diseases Society of America, in collaboration with the American Medical Association and the Vaccine Integrity Project. In alignment with these organizations, New York City's immunization recommendations this respiratory virus season are as follows:

COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance

Most New Yorkers ages 6 months and older should get the COVID-19 vaccine.

It is especially important for New Yorkers who are 65 years of age or older, 6 to 23 months old, have an underlying health condition that puts them at risk for severe disease, or are pregnant or recently gave birth to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccination against COVID-19 remains the best defense to prevent severe COVID-19, and there are no new data that raise any concerns about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Flu Vaccination Guidance

All New Yorkers ages 6 months and older should get their annual flu vaccine this fall.

New Yorkers who are ages 65 and older, younger than 5 years, have certain underlying health conditions, or are pregnant are at particular risk of serious outcomes from the flu. Every year, about 1,500 to 2,000 New Yorkers die of seasonal flu and pneumonia, which can develop as a complication of the flu. The flu vaccine dramatically lowers the risk of hospitalization and death.

RSV Vaccination Guidance

New Yorkers 75 and older, and those ages 50 to 74 who are at high risk for severe RSV due to certain health conditions or residence in a long-term care facility (such as a nursing home), should get an RSV vaccine, but only if they have not done so before. Additionally, immunocompromised adults ages 18 years and older should receive a single RSV vaccine if they have not received one previously.

RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalizations in the United States. To protect the youngest New Yorkers, people who are pregnant should get an RSV vaccine during pregnancy if they have not had the vaccine before, or their newborn infant should get an RSV monoclonal antibody (preventive medicine) at birth if born during their first RSV season.

How to Get Vaccinated and Stay Safe

To find a COVID-19, flu, or RSV vaccination site, talk to your doctor, visit the City's Health Map, or call 311. Vaccines are offered by hundreds of providers around the city, including pharmacies.

No-cost options are available for people who are uninsured. For help connecting to health insurance and care options, call 311.

Symptoms of COVID-19, flu, and RSV can be similar and may include sore throat, cough, headache, fever, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, and, less commonly, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of taste or smell. If you have symptoms, get tested for COVID-19 and flu right away so you can start treatment if eligible. Many doctors' offices, clinics, urgent care centers, and pharmacies can test for COVID-19, flu, and RSV at the same time. At-home COVID-19, flu, and RSV tests are also available.

If you have symptoms, it is important to test and seek care right away, especially for those who have risk factors for severe illness, as treatment works best the sooner one begins. New Yorkers can call 311 to find a healthcare provider near them or visit NYC Health + Hospitals' virtual ExpressCare for treatment services by phone or video.

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