WBUR TODAY: Sick season
❤️ Donate Tuesday, January 6, 2026 ☁️ Cloudy, with a high of 37. Good Morning Boston, Flu is spiking in Massachusetts — and it's more than just an annoyance. The state Department of Public Health reports 30 people have died this season , including three children. Hospitalizations have ticked up earlier than usual, too. The good news: there's still time to get a flu shot. Most of us need one. Only about a third of Mass. residents have been vaccinated this year. Meanwhile, COVID rates are low, but are beginning to rise. And there's new research out about the impacts of the virus. Long COVID complications : Kids facing hunger are at higher risk for long COVID, researchers at Mass General Brigham found in a study released yesterday . Study co-author Tanayott Thaweethai told WBUR’s Dan Guzman that other factors, like economic instability, discrimination and transportation issues, can also have an impact. But having enough food to eat is the biggest risk...