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Three people, all wearing masks, different ages, races and genders. Raising their sleeves to show off a band-aid on their shoulder. Text reads: Wrong time for the flu. Right time for a flu shot.

Seasonal Flu (Influenza)

Go to: Vaccination | Symptoms | Transmission | Treatment | Prevention | Risk Groups

Flu (influenza) is a seasonal upper airway and lung infection that causes fever and a cough or sore throat. It is most common during the fall and winter months. Every year, about 2,000 New Yorkers die of seasonal flu and pneumonia, which can develop as a complication of the flu.

Vaccination is the best way to protect against the flu. You can receive the flu vaccine at the same time as all other vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine.


Find a Flu Vaccination Site on the NYC Vaccine Finder


Vaccination

Seasonal flu vaccines are safe and the best way to protect yourself against getting sick. Flu vaccines have been monitored for safety for decades. Getting a flu vaccine reduces your risk of getting the flu and reduces your risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death if you do get it.

It is best to get vaccinated in the fall, but you can be vaccinated through late spring.

Who Should Get Vaccinated

Everyone ages 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every year, even if they have received a flu vaccine or had the flu in prior seasons.

It is especially important to get vaccinated if:

  • You are at higher risk for severe illness, hospitalization and death. This includes young children, older adults, pregnant people and people with certain underlying medical conditions.
  • You are a health care worker or caregiver for or have close contact with people who are in a high-risk group.

See Risk Groups for more information.

Children in school or day care may be required to get a flu vaccine in NYC.

Nearly everyone should get the flu vaccine. However, if you are currently sick, have a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome or have a history of an severe allergic reaction to the flu vaccine or any ingredient in it, talk to your provider before getting the vaccine.

Where to Get Vaccinated

Flu vaccines are widely available at doctor’s offices, pharmacies, community health clinics and through employer-sponsored programs. Most health insurance plans cover flu vaccination without a co-pay or other fees.

There are also many ways for New Yorkers with no or limited health insurance to get low-cost vaccines, including at NYC H+H sites. Find a flu vaccine on the NYC Vaccine Finder.

About the Vaccines

The flu vaccine is usually given by an injection (shot). There are many flu vaccine options. Different vaccines are approved for use in people in different age groups. There are two flu vaccines specifically made for adults 65 and older that the Health Department recommends: a high-dose flu vaccine and an adjuvanted flu vaccine.

The flu vaccines are very safe. Side effects are usually mild and may include soreness, redness, and swelling where the shot was given, headache, fever, nausea, muscle aches and fatigue.


Go to: Vaccination | Symptoms | Transmission | Treatment | Prevention | Risk Groups


Symptoms and Testing

Flu symptoms usually start to show one to four days after exposure. Most people are sick for a few days.

Typical symptoms include fever, chills, headache, body aches, cough, runny or stuffy nose, and sore throat. Intestinal symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea, are possible but less common. If you have a severe symptom, such as difficulty breathing, go immediately to a hospital emergency room.

Flu sometimes leads to serious complications, such as pneumonia, hospitalization or death.

Flu symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19 symptoms.

If you have symptoms, get tested for flu and COVID-19 right away so you can start treatment if eligible. Many doctors’ offices, clinics, urgent care centers and pharmacies offer testing for COVID-19, flu and other respiratory viruses in one test.


Go to: Vaccination | Symptoms | Transmission | Treatment | Prevention | Risk Groups


Transmission (Spread)

Flu is very contagious and easily spreads through contact with someone who is sick. The virus spreads mainly by droplets produced when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes or talks. People can become sick if these droplets or infected mucus or saliva enter their eyes, nose or mouth.

People can spread the virus before they have symptoms and when they are sick. Usually, people are more contagious in the first 3-5 days of illness.

If you have symptoms of flu or test positive for the virus, you should stay home and take steps to avoid spreading the virus to others at home or if you leave home. See Prevention for more information.


Go to: Vaccination | Symptoms | Transmission | Treatment | Prevention | Risk Groups


Treatment and Care

Most people recover from the flu on their own, but treatment with antiviral medicine is available for people at increased risk of severe illness and complications from flu. If you have flu, contact your provider right away to see if you should get treatment, as treatment works better the sooner it begins.

Everyone who has flu should rest and drink plenty of liquids. You can consider over-the-counter medications that you normally take to reduce symptoms such as fever. People 18 and younger should not take aspirin or aspirin-containing products, such as Alka Seltzer® or Pepto-Bismol. Aspirin can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome in young people with flu. Talk to your provider if you have questions about what medicines to take.

You should also call a health care provider if you experience emergency symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or severe weakness or muscle pain. If your child is sick, call their provider if:

  • They have signs of dehydration, such as a dry mouth or little urine (less-wet diapers)
  • A fever that lasts more than three days or stays above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), or any fever If they are younger than 3 months old
  • Unusual fussiness, poor feeding or sleeplessness.

If you are unable to reach a provider, go to an urgent care center or an emergency room. For adults or children with difficulty breathing (in young children, this may appear as rapid breathing, grunting, nostrils flaring or using neck muscles to breathe), a pale or blue color around the lips or mouth, confusion, severe dehydration, or other concerning symptoms, call 911 or go to a nearby hospital.


Go to: Vaccination | Symptoms | Transmission | Treatment | Prevention | Risk Groups


Prevention

In addition to getting vaccinated, follow these tips to help avoid getting or spreading flu:

Usually, people are more contagious in the first 3-5 days of illness. If you feel sick, or test positive for flu, stay home until, for at least 24 hours, your symptoms are improving and you have not had a fever without using fever-reducing medicines. You can then resume usual activities like work and school but wear a well-fitting mask for the next five days as you still may be contagious.


Go to: Vaccination | Symptoms | Transmission | Treatment | Prevention | Risk Groups


High-Risk Groups

Anyone can get very sick from the flu and have serious complications. However, the following groups are more likely to have severe illness, be hospitalized, or even die from the flu:

  • Children younger than 5, especially those under 2
  • People age 65 and older
  • Pregnant people
  • People with certain health conditions, including:
    • Asthma, emphysema or any other chronic respiratory diseases
    • Heart, kidney or liver disease
    • Blood disorders, such as sickle cell anemia
    • Endocrine disorders, such as diabetes
    • Metabolic disorders
    • Weakened immune system, from illness or medication
    • Neuromuscular disorders that interfere with breathing or the discharge of mucus
    • Long-term aspirin therapy in people under 19
    • Obesity (a Body Mass Index of 40 and over)
    • Having had a stroke
  • People living in nursing homes or other care facilities
  • Certain racial or ethnic groups, including Black, Latino, and American Indians and Alaskan Natives

For more information, visit CDC: People at Higher Risk of Flu Complications

Additional Resources

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