Get Your Vaccine: NYC Flu Season So Far Outpacing Last Year's

NEW YORK CITY — Grab your flu shot, New Yorkers — influenza appears ready to return in force after a lull during the coronavirus pandemic.

Labs confirmed 200 influenza cases in the five boroughs during October — the first month of this year's flu season.

The case numbers from state health data shows this season is so far outpacing last year's, when there were 86 flu cases across the city in October.

Indeed, October's flu numbers are higher than the same month in 2019, before COVID-19 was formally discovered.

“We saw record-setting influenza vaccinations among adults last season, and we hope New Yorkers will protect themselves in still larger numbers this year,” Dave Chokshi, the city's health commissioner, said in a statement. “I urge all New Yorkers to get the flu vaccine as soon as you can. It will keep you and your family safe from flu. It may be the wrong time for the flu, but it’s the right time to get a flu vaccine.”

Last year's flu season was extraordinarily mild, in large part because of anti-coronavirus measures such as masking and social distancing. The flu vaccine likely helped too — record numbers of New Yorkers got their shots last season.

There were just 1,405 flu cases and no flu deaths during in the city last season, according to data. The 2019-2020 season had 74,768 cases and five deaths.

The mild flu season allayed fears influenza cases could compound the troubles wrought by the coronavirus pandemic.

But the flu could be ready to return with a vengeance this year.

Mayor Bill de Blasio got his flu shot on Sept. 30 to encourage New Yorkers to do the same.

"Everyone needs a flu shot," de Blasio said. "Really particularly important if you're medically vulnerable or if you happen to be older, but 'Zoomers' need it too."

New Yorkers can find places that offer flu shots by visiting vaccinefinder.nyc.gov and selecting "Flu" on the top tab or going to nyc.gov/flu to make an appointment.