New York City is still grappling with its flu season, and experts warn that the worst may not be over yet. According to city health officials, nearly 128,000 cases of the flu have been confirmed in New York City so far this season, with a record-breaking 32,000 cases reported during just one week in December.
The number of new cases started to decline after that peak, but hospitalizations for flu-related illnesses remain on the rise, with over 4,500 New Yorkers hospitalized with the virus in late December alone. The city's health department is urging all citizens to get vaccinated against the flu as soon as possible.
However, some recent changes made by the Trump administration to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's childhood vaccination schedule have left many concerned about the potential impact on vaccination rates, particularly among young children. According to new guidelines, flu shots are no longer recommended for all children, but rather only those deemed high-risk or those whose parents have shared clinical decision-making with their doctors.
New York City health officials have stated that these changes will not affect the city's school vaccination requirements and that healthcare providers are still advised to follow their usual immunization practices. Nonetheless, critics argue that such guidance could lead to a decrease in flu shot rates, potentially resulting in more severe outcomes for those who contract the virus.
Experts warn that this decision may have "deadly consequences" nationwide, particularly among vulnerable populations like children. As one pediatrician put it, the recent changes will only add to the chaos and confusion already present in the public discourse around vaccines, ultimately eroding trust in immunizations.
With flu season showing no signs of abating, New York City residents are being reminded that it's not too late to get vaccinated against the flu. While the current strain has developed some mutations, health officials stress that the updated flu shot remains effective in preventing serious complications and hospitalizations. As one city official put it, "We're not out of the woods yet," and continued vigilance is necessary to mitigate the impact of this ongoing public health crisis.
The number of new cases started to decline after that peak, but hospitalizations for flu-related illnesses remain on the rise, with over 4,500 New Yorkers hospitalized with the virus in late December alone. The city's health department is urging all citizens to get vaccinated against the flu as soon as possible.
However, some recent changes made by the Trump administration to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's childhood vaccination schedule have left many concerned about the potential impact on vaccination rates, particularly among young children. According to new guidelines, flu shots are no longer recommended for all children, but rather only those deemed high-risk or those whose parents have shared clinical decision-making with their doctors.
New York City health officials have stated that these changes will not affect the city's school vaccination requirements and that healthcare providers are still advised to follow their usual immunization practices. Nonetheless, critics argue that such guidance could lead to a decrease in flu shot rates, potentially resulting in more severe outcomes for those who contract the virus.
Experts warn that this decision may have "deadly consequences" nationwide, particularly among vulnerable populations like children. As one pediatrician put it, the recent changes will only add to the chaos and confusion already present in the public discourse around vaccines, ultimately eroding trust in immunizations.
With flu season showing no signs of abating, New York City residents are being reminded that it's not too late to get vaccinated against the flu. While the current strain has developed some mutations, health officials stress that the updated flu shot remains effective in preventing serious complications and hospitalizations. As one city official put it, "We're not out of the woods yet," and continued vigilance is necessary to mitigate the impact of this ongoing public health crisis.
The flu season just won't quit in NYC 
! 128k cases so far this season is crazy 
. And with all these changes to vaccination schedules, I'm getting worried about what could happen next... 
those high-risk kids aren't protected and now it's like the flu shots are optional? 
not cool at all 
. If we're not careful, we might end up with a whole lot of sick people and some of them might not make it 
. Vaccines save lives! 
Let's get vaccinated already! 
. It's like, what's wrong with following the usual immunization practices, right? 
We need to protect these kids from a virus that can be so serious 
. Let's hope we don't see an increase in flu cases, especially among young children 
.
! And can you believe experts are calling it "deadly consequences"? Like, what even is the point of having a health system if we're not gonna look out for everyone? 
And now the flu is still going strong in NYC - 128k cases so far?! 
It's crazy how our healthcare system can't even keep up with this stuff. Getting vaccinated ASAP is still super important, right? I mean, even if there are some changes to how vaccines are handled... let's not forget that flu shots have been around for decades and they've helped a ton of people! 
Why do these new guidelines need to cause so much uncertainty? 
from a trusted source in the NYC healthcare scene and it's super concerning! so apparently those changes to the CDC guidelines are already causing some major anxiety among parents and pediatricians. like, can u imagine if flu rates start going up again? it's gonna be a total nightmare for hospitals and ICUs. I've talked to a few docs who are worried that this new guidance is just gonna lead to more kids not getting vaccinated... and we all know what happens when that happens 
flu season isn't over yet, guys! let's get those shots in ASAP 
It seems like this change is gonna cause more problems than it solves 
. And let's be real, flu season isn't over yet 
, we should be taking extra precautions to stay safe 
. I'd rather have a vaccine that 100% protects me from getting sick than one that only works for high-risk or special cases 
! Now, I hear they're lettin' some kids off the hook if their parents do some fancy clinical decision-makin' with their doctors 
It's like, come on, folks! If you got a child, get 'em vaccinated already! Don't be waitin' for the government to tell ya what's best for your little one 
. So yeah, get vaccinated already, NYC! Don't wait till it's too late 
.
.
. And honestly, I think it's kinda cool that we're having these conversations about vaccines and immunizations because it means people are actually thinking about their health and stuff 
.
No way, we need better solutions than this! 
gotta protect our community, especially vulnerable ones 
. 128k cases so far? that's crazy! 
i've been seeing my friend get sick all the time and it's stressing me out, if they can't even agree on what vaccines are needed... how are we supposed to trust the system? 
. What's really goin on? Why did the Trump admin do this? It's all about control, fam 
. We gotta wake up & ask questions!