Unfortunately, the flu season has only just begun.
Fortunately, students still have time to protect themselves against the flu virus.
Flu season began this month and runs through May. While October is the ideal month to get the vaccine, November is definitely not too late, said Rosa Thomas, wellness coordinator at the Student Health Center.
“The best time to get the shot is in October, but in November and December, it would still work,” Thomas said. “The vaccine begins to work about one to two weeks after the person received the shot, and it lasts throughout the flu season.”
Although vaccinations aren’t 100 percent effective, the flu shot is the best protection against the flu, according to Thomas, who also said other than an occasional sore arm there are no side effects.
The most prominent excuse for not getting vaccinated is that the shot itself will give you the flu, but this is just a myth.
“The flu shot does not contain a living flu virus, Thomas said. “Therefore, the shot itself cannot give you the flu.”
Thomas also dismisses the myth that the flu is like a bad cold.
“The flu is an acute viral illness that can cause severe chest pain or abdominal symptoms,” she said. “The bronchitis associated with the flu can be contributed to pneumonia and can be fatal.”
While the shot is the best defense, people can take other precautions to prevent the flu.
“The flu virus is spread by water droplets passed on through hand shakes and the exchange of money,” Thomas said. “The second line of defense is frequent hand washing. People should also cough into the shoulders not the hands – this doesn’t spread the germs.”
Thomas encouraged students to get plenty of rest, drink water, eat breakfast, exercise and minimize stress to prevent running your body down and making yourself more susceptible to viruses and colds.
Area pharmacies, like Walgreens, CVS, Wal-Mart and Kroger, along with the Knox County Health Department offer the vaccine. Pharmacies charge around $20 for the shot, and the health department charges $10.
