NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) — With the flu season fast approaching, New Yorkers are being encouraged to get their flu vaccinations.<\/p>\n
Last year, the state experienced record-breaking flu cases, with weekly reports reaching an alarming 75,788 in December.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Discover more local reporting on our homepage\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n December was the peak of flu season, with a weekly average of 52,959 reported cases and 2,965 hospitalizations.<\/p>\n The spike in flu cases was linked to the emergence of a new variant of influenza called subclade K<\/a>. Symptoms included fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, body aches, headaches and fatigue, according to the CDC.<\/p>\n Doctors recommend wearing a mask in crowded situations where people are sneezing and coughing.<\/p>\n New Yorkers over the age of 65 and those with weak immune systems should consider getting a high-dose version of the vaccine. Flu vaccines contain two strains of Influenza A and one of Influenza B.<\/p>\n Flu shots are available at no cost for uninsured New Yorkers at the following locations:<\/p>\n BronxBrooklyn<\/p>\n Shazia’s Pharmacy<\/p>\n 3166 Coney Island Avenue, 1<\/p>\n ManhattanQueensStaten Island<\/p>\n For more information about respiratory illnesses, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here<\/a>.<\/p>\n