Flu Sickens 16K More In New York As Vaccine Flounders

NEW YORK, NY— The flu continued to sicken New Yorkers at a record-breaking pace last week, according to state health figures published Thursday, prompting more warnings from officials about the importance of flu shots.

The state Department of Health recorded 16,804 new cases of the virus last week, a 7-percent inrease from the week before. More than 69,000 people have caught the flu since the season began in October, the latest state figures show.

The state's worst flu outbreak in years is slowing, the latest state report suggests. The number of new cases grew at a slower rate last week than the week before. And the number of people hospitalized statewide fell 3 percent to 2,409, the first decrease since December.

This year's flu shot is just 36 percent effective against all forms of the virus and just 25 percent effective against the A(H3N2) strain, which officials say is most prevalent this year, according to a Centers for Disease Control a report published Thursday.

But officials still say getting vaccinated can help staunch the flu's spread in New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced plans last week to reimburse local governments that are spending extra money to ensure as many people as possible get flu shots.

"As the number of flu cases continues to rise, I urge all New Yorkers to take every action to protect themselves and their loved ones from this epidemic," Cuomo said in a statement. "We are doing everything we can to ensure the availability and affordability of the flu vaccine, and I encourage everyone to stay vigilant and get vaccinated."

The flu has been widespread in New York for 10 straight weeks, the latest Department of Health report says. That was the case in 47 other states as of Feb. 3, according to the most recent CDC data available.

The virus has killed five children across the state this season, including two last week, the report says. The city Department of Health has confirmed four flu-related deaths in the five boroughs this year.

The Bronx reported 1,843 cases of the flu last week, the most of any county in the state. Nearly 29 percent of all new cases statewide came from the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens alone, state figures show.

Cuomo, a Democrat, has proposed a law in his state budget would let pharmacists to vaccinate kids as young as 2, as he's already allowed them to do under an executive order. The law would also encourage pharmacies to enroll in a state program to give kids flu shots for free, Cuomo's office said.

The vaccine is still the best way to ward off the flu despite its relative inefficacy this year, state officials say.

"Statistics show that the vaccine is especially effective for young children, so I urge you to get your children vaccinated today; it could save their lives," Dr. Howard Zucker, the state health commissioner, said in a statement.

Here's a map showing where you can get a flu shot if you still need one.

(Lead image: A nurse in Atlanta prepares a flu shot in on Feb. 7. Photo by David Goldman/Associated Press)