This is the time of the year that a controversial topic rears its head: Whether or not students should get a flu shot.
There tends to be a stigma around the flu shot; students may wonder if it will actually help prevent the flu, or may have heard anecdotes from others who claim to have a bad reaction to the vaccine.
“Ever since I got the flu a few years ago, even when I got the flu shot, I haven’t gotten the shot since,” said student Guillermo Cruz. “Ever since I made that decision to not get the flu shot, I haven’t gotten the flu.”
There seems to a variety of opinions about the flu shot. Some students feel they need to get it, and others feel as if it is extremely unnecessary. 
Clayton Keener said, “I would get one because I know it’s important for the immune system to get used to being exposed to different forms of the virus. So basically for functional reasons I would get one.” 
Then, there is the crowd who felt the flu shot was unnecessary until something in their life changed.
“I never used to get the flu shot before because I didn’t think I would need it, but ever since I had my daughter, I felt as if it was safe for me to get one, not for me, but for her safety because I know the flu would be more harmful to her,” said Shane Mesa.
Dr. Sergio Mazon debunked some myths about the campus Health Center and shed some light on the flu shot.
“The idea that the flu shot could get you sick is a myth. There are many overlapping symptoms with the flu and other illnesses, but people tend to associate them getting sick with getting the flu shot,” said Mazon. “It takes about two weeks of the flu shot to fully take effect.” 
Dr. Mazon explained that because of the many overlapping symptoms between illnesses such as mono, the common cold and the flu, people can assume that the flu shot got them sick. There is no living virus in the shot itself, and the shot does not kick in immediately.
Dr. Mazon also noted that the shot does not give you full immunity from getting the flu. However, if you do end up getting the flu, it will be a much more mild version of the illness in comparison to if you did not receive the shot.
“We should be receiving about one thousand flu shot vaccines any day now as we await our shipment,” said Mazon.
Joann Curtiss, an Administrative Support Assistant at the Health Center, elaborated that the department is currently experiencing a shortage of vaccines due to a mishap on their most recent shipment.
The Health Center is currently screening students and giving those who are at the highest risk of catching the flu the shot until the new shipment arrives.
The flu shot is free to all students who wish to get it, and available to all faculty and staff for $20.
The Health Center’s walk in hours for the flu shot are as follows:
8:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
If you’d like to get a flu shot or ask a medical professional questions about the shot, make an appointment for a screening by contacting the Health Center at (209) 667-3396. Stay healthy, Stan State!