A Rough Start To This Year’s Flu Season

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Vaccines reduce the need to seek medical help by 40 to 60 percent

January 7, 2026

By Barrett Seaman–

Every winter brings a new flu season. This one is turning out to be a doozy. During Christmas week, New York State recorded the highest number of influenza hospitalizations ever recorded. That one week saw almost 1,000 more hospital admissions than the previous one, according to the state Department of Health.

Closer to home, while Westchester County is not seeing as great a surge as the rest of the state, Dr. Barry Geller, Associate Medical Director and Chair of Emergency Medicine at Phelps Hospital, says,“the number of flu cases and hospitalizations we are seeing are much higher this season than the same time last year.” At Phelps’ sister hospital, Northern Westchester in Mt. Kisco, year over year for the month of December, cases almost tripled, from 114 to 304.

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The current dominant strain, a mutated version of H3N2 called subclade K, does not generally produce more severe symptoms but does seem to be more contagious. Most of the patients showing up at Phelps’ Emergency Department present with fever, body aches, cough and fatigue, notes ER doctor Shalom Sokolow. “We are able to provide them with some assistance, reassure them that they should expect to feel better soon and safely discharge them home. Unfortunately, some patients, especially elderly patients with multiple medical problems, are sicker. They have significant respiratory distress, low oxygen and are often dehydrated. We need to provide them with breathing support and IV fluids and admit them to the hospital.”

Flu symptoms are similar to cold but far stronger, far more severe,” observes Dr. Akshay Gupta another ER doctor at Phelps. It also typically lasts a little longer than a typical cold and could, he says, “last more than a week and stay infectious for that entire time.” To hear Dr. Gupta’s extended comments, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGJA6dHQsyw.

This year’s spike is partly due to the highly contagious nature of subclade K, but declining vaccination rates are also a factor. Nationally, there has been a six percent drop in flu shots year over year, especially among adults, who are more vulnerable. Getting vaccinated is the single most effective way to avoid getting the flu, says Dr. Gupta, but it helps to practice traditional hygiene measures, like washing hands frequently, and avoiding travel while sick.

County Executive Ken Jenkins used his January 5^th weekly briefing to urge county residents to get vaccinated. To do so, said Jenkins, “reduces the risk of having to go to the doctor by 40 to 60 percent.”

Most area pharmacies offer flu as well as COVID 19 vaccines, but adults and children who are either uninsured or underinsured can get shots for free at Westchester County Department of Health clinics. However, they must first make an appointment, which can be done by calling 914-995-5800 before 3:00 p.m. on weekdays.

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