Flu, COVID-19 And RSV Vaccinations: What NY Residents Need To Know

NEW YORK — For the first time, New York residents have a trio of vaccines available to fight respiratory viruses that cause misery in the fall and winter months, but health officials worry that "shot fatigue" may leave many people unprotected against serious illnesses.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccination and updated COVID-19 shot. Vaccines for RSV, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus, are available for the first time.

“We need to use them,” Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a news briefing Thursday, in which they released a survey that shows fewer than half of Americans plan to get any kind of vaccine. “Right now is the right time.”

What’s Happening In New York?

The latest CDC surveillance data for New York shows 1.9 percent of emergency room visits for the week ending September 16 were for respiratory illnesses.

Of those, 0.1 percent were for the flu, 0.0 percent were for RSV and the majority of respiratory illnesses, 1.8 percent, were for COVID-19.

The newly updated COVID-19 vaccine protects against new versions of the constantly evolving coronavirus, which has caused a late-summer jump in infections, hospitalizations and deaths. So far, health officials have said, the vaccine appears to be a good match against currently circulating variants

Nationwide, Vaccinations Trending Down

Last year, just 47 percent of U.S. adults received the flu vaccine during the 2022-23 respiratory illness season, down from 49 percent in the year prior. This year, vaccine hesitancy could be greater, according to a National Foundation for Infectious Diseases survey that showed only about 1 in 5 Americans are worried they’ll get seriously ill with any of the three respiratory illnesses.

About 43 percent of U.S. adults said they don’t plan to or are unsure about whether they’ll get a flu shot. Only 40 percent said they plan to get a COVID booster, and among adults 60 and older for whom the RSV shot is recommended, only 40 percent said they plan to get it.

When asked the reasons for their vaccine hesitancy, respondents cited concerns about side effects, distrust of vaccines in general and doubts about their efficacy.

Health officials don’t think this year’s respiratory virus season will be as serious as last year, when hospitals, especially pediatric units, were overwhelmed with flu, RSV and COVID cases. The flu season arrived early last year, with early-season cases at the highest level in more than a decade.

Free Covid-19 Vaccines Are Available

About 2 million Americans got the new COVID-19 shot in the first two weeks the updated vaccine was available, despite a messy rollout and some early insurance barriers. For the first time, the federal government isn’t buying and distributing the shots.

Pharmacies, physician practices and other health care providers have had to order their own vaccine supplies. The shots are supposed to be provided free in-network to the insured, but it has taken some time for insurers to update their billing codes, meaning some people have had to pay out-of-pocket costs.