As the winter season approaches, so does the flu season. During this time, the California State University, Stanislaus, (Stan State), Health Center offers free influenza vaccinations, to protect yourself from suffering from the the flu. At Stan State, student fees make flu vaccines available for free for all eligible students.
The Health Center hosts walk-in times Monday – Friday. Check here for their various hours of operation. No appointment is needed. Shots are free for eligible students and $20.00 for faculty and staff.
Registered Nurse Laura Roberts (RN, BSN, MSN) stressed how getting the vaccine can help protect not only you, but those around you that are at high risk of getting the flu, such as children and the elderly. 
“The importance of getting the flu shot is to prevent the flu that can be a pretty severe upper respiratory infection.  In bad cases the infection can end up leading to hospitalization,” she said.
There is no particular time to get a flu shot, but it was expressed by Roberts that it is best to get the vaccine during the middle of winter up through the spring, as  March the flu is still circulating.
“The flu virus is present for the whole year, you can get the vaccine up to June,” she explained.  “Now is the best to get a flu vaccine before the height of the flu season.”
Flu vaccines are developed every year based on strains in other parts of the world, which can be up to four.  Last year there were two prominent strains that were present.  Influenza A was 45% effective against the flu and influenza B was 73% effective against the flu.  
Roberts stated that if A was in circulation in your community, then you would have had not as much protection. She explained that though you wouldn’t be fully protected, you would be protected from getting extreme symptoms.
“A flu shot is not 100% effective, but it is important to get the vaccine shot as it reduces the chances of getting the flu and protects you from getting a bad case of it,” explained Roberts.
With this in mind, she stated, “Many vaccines are not 100% effective, but it is important to get the benefits of the vaccine even though it is not 100%.”
“You can get side effects that your body interprets as getting the flu,” she explains.
“Tthe vaccine gives you side effects that are normal with your immune response.”
There are some students that have been taking advantage of these services offered by the Health Center. Maria Gonzalez (senior, Child Development) is a diabetic and gets the flu vaccine because she has to.
Even though she is forced to get the vaccine for health purposes, this does not make her keep her distance from the Health Center.
“I use the Health Center as much as I can,” she explained. “When I’m not using the amenities offered from the gym, I’m using the Health Center.  I love the Health Center!”
Some students are not fully aware of the benefits to a flu vaccine. Manjot Kaur (alumna, Child Development) did not realize that the school offered vaccine services.
“[The Health Center] offering these services is a good idea if I would have known” Kaur said.
Other students like Savannah Ramirez (senior, Liberal Studies) have known of the services but still haven’t taken advantage of them.  
“I think it’s great that they offer the vaccine, because some people may not have access,” she said.
“I get super sick working in a preschool, even with getting the flu shot.  But I never get extreme flu symptoms [because of the vaccine]”
The walk-in times for influenza vaccinations are located on the school website.