Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
Potential link between reduced vaccination rates and communicable diseases
1:01:10
ยท
86 sec
Council Member Lynn Schulman inquires about the potential link between reduced vaccination rates and spikes in communicable diseases. Acting Commissioner Michelle Morse provides information on current disease trends and vaccination efforts.
- The three measles cases in New York City in 2025 are unrelated and do not constitute an outbreak
- Major vaccination campaigns focus on seasonal flu and COVID vaccines
- About 2 million flu vaccines and 800,000 COVID vaccines were administered this winter (likely an undercount)
- The flu season was challenging, but recent data shows a 14% decrease in flu case rates
- COVID rates have been relatively stable in recent months
- DOHMH continues to engage with communities, providers, and partners about the importance of flu and COVID vaccines
Lynn Schulman
1:01:10
Okay, great.
1:01:13
Is there a direct link between the reduced rate of children's vaccinations and spikes in communicable diseases in the city?
Michelle Morse
1:01:22
Thank you for that question.
1:01:24
Will well there are a number of communicable diseases across the city of course.
1:01:29
The three cases of measles that we've seen in New York City in 2025 are unrelated, so that is not an outbreak.
1:01:37
So I wanna start by saying that to make that piece clear.
1:01:40
Our biggest campaigns and focus are seasonal flu vaccine and COVID vaccines.
1:01:46
This winter, we saw about 2,000,000 flu vaccines and about 800,000 COVID vaccines, and that is just what is reported.
1:01:58
It's not mandatory reporting, so that's probably an undercount of the amount of vaccination.
1:02:04
We did have a particularly challenging flu season this year.
1:02:07
However, our flu case rates are down by fourteen percent in our most recent data, and we do seem to be quite a bit past our peak in flu.
1:02:18
For our COVID rates, they have been somewhat similar for the past few months, but are not at this increasing significantly.
1:02:26
And we continue to engage with lots of communities and providers and partners around the importance and lifesaving nature of both flu and COVID vaccines.