Mamdani Got His Flu Shot, With a Surprise Guest in Tow

In a Brooklyn doctor's office on Friday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and one-time rival Curtis Sliwa turned a vaccination appointment into a small political-buddy act. The pair sat for flu shots in Fort Greene, with the Republican Sliwa cracking, "This is not the kind of shots we used to give one another!" as he rolled up his sleeve beside the Democratic mayor, who defeated him last November, per WABC. The event was staged to push more New Yorkers to get vaccinated as colder weather arrives.

Sliwa, who reminded cameras he'd once survived being shot five times, seemed notably less comfortable with the needle than Mamdani, asking, "What happens if I faint?" before the mayor took his hand and said, "I've got you." Once the shot was over, Sliwa flashed his "I got my flu shot" button and joked about using it to ride the subway. Health officials say the flu vaccine can cut the chance of needing a doctor's visit for flu by as much as 60%, according to the CDC. USA Today has more photos from the collegial Mamdani-Sliwa event.