With final exams rapidly approaching, the coming days might be the worst ones in which to catch the flu.
Luckily for students, flu vaccines are available from the University's three campus health centers.
In previous years, the vaccines the University offered have been FluMist nasal flu vaccines.
But the health centers will offer shots this year, as they deemed the FluMist vaccines too expensive.
According to the University's Health Centers, it's most important for students with certain chronic medical conditions to obtain the flu shots. These conditions include diabetes and respiratory problems such as asthma, reactive airway disease, and recurrent bronchitis.
Dr. Edward Lifshitz of the Busch Livingston Health Center said that while it's very important for students with these conditions to get vaccinated, it's not a bad idea for other students to do so, as well.
The flu shot the University offers protects only against "ordinary flu," which could potentially kill as many as 40,000 Americans per year. The shot does not protect against Avian, or bird flu, according to the University Health Services Web site.
Students who want a flu shot must make an appointment at any of the three health centers - Hurtado Health Center on the College Avenue campus, Busch-Livingston Health Center on Livingston campus or Willets Health Center on Douglass campus.
The shot costs $15.
Dr. Lifshitz said the University's Health Centers have administered 220 flu shots so far this year, but that students are still coming in.
"Usually by the end of the year, 300 to 500 flu shots are given out. Last year, the total number of flu shots given out was 520," he said.
Lifshitz said the flu shot and the FluMist nasal flu vaccine differ greatly in price.
"The difference is almost double or triple the price of the flu shot."
He stressed there is a slight difference in efficiency of FluMist over the flu shot. "A flu shot is easier to give because it is direct, but with FluMist there is more room for error due to it being given through the nasal passages."
In previous years, the health centers had many visits due to the flu. Last year, more than 350 students visited the health centers for the flu and flu-like illnesses.
According to the University Health Centers' Web site, the flu vaccine is approximately 70 percent effective in preventing the flu.
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