Doctors are stressing the importance of getting the flu shot this year, saying the risk of getting very sick or even dying is much higher if you contract both COVID-19 and the flu.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull offered free flu vaccinations and COVID-19 tests Tuesday.

Edward Fishkin, the chief medical officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, says the symptoms start out the same: fever, cough, shortness of breath.

"South America just came off their flu season and they had a much smaller, less severe flu season because they were doing COVID measures which work the same. Standard tried and true method like social distancing, like hand-washing, like wearing a mask are very effective, and the flu shot adds another level of protection," says Fishkin.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says flu shots are available for people 6 months and older.