Campaign to Encourage New Yorkers 65 and Older to Get Vaccinated to Protect Against Respiratory Illness

Campaign Reinforces Importance of Prevention to Avoid Serious Illness from Flu and COVID-19

Watch the Campaign Videos Here

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 8, 2024) – The New York State Department of Health is launching a new campaign to encourage New Yorkers 65 and older to get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19. These respiratory illnesses continue to circulate across New York, and can cause serious illness, hospitalization, and even death.

"COVID-19 and influenza can cause severe health complications, but the good news is, there are immunizations that are safe and can provide excellent protection against these viruses," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "This new campaign delivers an important message about who is most at risk and their need to get vaccinated to protect their health."

Those 65 and older are vulnerable to serious illness that could lead to hospitalization and even death if they contract a respiratory virus, including flu and COVID-19. However, data compiled by the Department finds COVID-19 vaccine uptake ranging from just 34% to 39% for those aged 65 and older.

The Department's campaign focuses on how to prevent serious health complications from these viral infections by encouraging immunization among older adults. That message is also echoed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recently advised an additional vaccine dose for those 65 and older to bolster the protection provided by the updated vaccine.

The four-week campaign includes 30-second and 15-second videos in both English and Spanish that feature older adults engaged in various activities with family and friends, and highlights the importance of vaccines to continue enjoying favorite pastimes. The ads will appear on TV, social media, and online streaming platforms.

Two videos are available in both English and Spanish, which you can view here:

  • 30-second English language version.

  • 15-second English language version.

  • 30-second Spanish language version.

  • 15-second Spanish language version.

A new study also found that COVID-19 infection increases a person's risk of developing an autoimmune disease, but that vaccination helps decrease that risk.

The campaign also reinforces the Department's recent effort to encourage vaccine uptake by asking Local Health Departments, Area Agencies on Aging, and other older adult service organizations to urge immunization among their constituents 60 and older to avoid respiratory symptoms that could cause serious illness and lead to hospitalization and death.

Symptoms such as body aches, chills, cough, fever, and stuffy or runny nose could signal a viral infection and individuals who experience such symptoms should stay home and refrain from socializing with others, cover their coughs and sneezes, clean and disinfect surfaces, and test for COVID-19 infection with a home test kit, by calling a health care provider or visiting Home Test to Treat, a website to find no-cost testing and treatment for COVID-19 and flu.

Those who test positive, or whose symptoms worsen, should call a heath care provider, who can prescribe antiviral medications, such Paxlovid for COVID-19 infection, and Tamiflu for influenza. Both medications can ease symptoms and reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. To be most effective, Paxlovid should be taken within five days of the onset of symptoms, while Tamiflu works best if started within two days of the appearance of illness.

The Department also supports new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Core Strategies for individuals infected with a viral illness, such as COVID-19, flu or Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Those strategies are key to preventing the spread of viruses to family and friends, and within the community.

The recommendations include resuming normal activities when symptoms are abating and an individual is fever-free for 24-hours, as well as continuing to take precautions such as wearing a mask or limiting physical contact for five days when virus transmission is still possible, even though symptoms have improved.

Most people who get COVID get better within a couple of weeks, but some may continue to suffer symptoms or develop new ones after they recover. Those individuals may have long COVID, a condition that causes a wide range of physical, mental, emotional, and psychological symptoms after initial infection, which impacts their daily lives.

More information about long COVID, including symptoms, the risk of developing long COVID, and treatment is available here.

Local pharmacies can fill antiviral prescriptions, as well as administer the vaccines, which are covered by insurance, including Medicaid.

The latest information about respiratory illness is available here. Locations to find a COVID-19 vaccine are available here and flu shot locations can be found here.