While students usually must make an appointment before going in for check-ups at Lafene Health Center, the clinic is currently offering flu shot walk-ins for students to get vaccinated for the 2013-2014 flu season.
“It’s very important for students to get the shot,” Julie Gibbs, director of health promotions at Lafene, said. “It’s the number one way to prevent getting the flu, aside from proper hand hygiene and coughing into your elbow.”
The Center for Disease Control recommends that everyone from six months of age and older should get the shot. The flu constantly changes from year to year, which makes it unpredictable as to how bad a season this year might be. The CDC also strongly recommends that those who get sick easily and those around them should get the flu shot.
Wes Cano, junior in management and information systems, said that he only gets the shot when he think the flu season will be bad. This year, he doesn’t plan to get the shot.
“It’s just a precaution,” Cano said. “If I don’t get the shot, then I try to be as unstressed as possible. Being stressed can affect your immune system. Aside from that, there’s not much you can do.”
Other students take flu vaccinations because of parental influence. Lizzy Cook, sophomore in theater and family studies, said she got flu shots when she was younger because her mother encouraged her to do so. Although Cook said that she has not taken a shot recently, she makes sure to take steps to protect herself from the virus.
“I don’t remember the last time I got a flu shot,” Cook said. “When I don’t get a shot, I just wash my hands a lot, drink a lot of water and be as healthy as can be.”
Some students believe the flu shot is unnecessary and take extra supplements to keep from getting sick.
“I haven’t had a shot for a long time,” Jeriah Barker, sophomore in mechanical engineering, said. “I’ve actually not been sick in a long time. When I’m around other people who are sick, then I’ll take this Vitamin C thing called Berocca and put it in my water. It decreases my chances of being sick.”
Berocca is a vitamin supplement tablet that contains vitamins B and C and other nutrients. However, other students take the more traditional route of avoiding the flu and take over-the-counter medicine.
“I think I’m pretty healthy,” Brady Bruna, senior in agribusiness, said. “If I feel like I’m getting sick, I just take some medicine right away, drink some orange juice, get healthy food and get some good rest.”
Walk-ins at Lafene are available today from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and from 1- 4 p.m. Walk-ins will be held every Thursday until the semester ends.