Upstate New York residents are more likely to contract certain vaccine-preventable illnesses and develop the flu at twice the rate of other state residents.

That's according to a new report from Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Residents in the Utica-Rome-North Country region developed the flu at three times the rate of other New Yorkers.

The report shows only about 1 in 3 adults in the region get an annual flu shot.

Officials at Excellus hope the findings will prompt upstate residents to pay more attention to keeping their vaccinations current.

You can read the full report at excellusbcbs,com.

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