New Mexico's flu season will be in full swing from November until March, and UNM Student Health and Counseling is urging students to get their flu shots now.
SHAC will hold flu clinics around campus, with the last clinic on Oct. 31.
For students with a UNM ID, the shot costs $13. But students with health insurance plan A get the shot for free, and students who have plan B pay $6.50. Faculty, staff and community members can get the shot for $20.
Peggy Spencer, a physician at SHAC, said it is hard to tell how bad the flu season will be this year but that a college campus is an easy place to catch the virus.
Spencer said some people do not know what the symptoms of the flu are, so they don't know they're spreading it.
She said students should watch for common symptoms including fever, aching muscles, chills and coughing.
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Elysia Myers, a vocal performance major, said she has already gotten her flu shot.
"I have to get it every year because my mom, she has a low immune system, so I have to," she said. "But I'm a vocal performance major too, so I don't want to risk getting sick either."
David Pinter, also a vocal performance major, said getting sick as a vocalist means losing a lot of practice and performance time.
"I don't want to risk getting the flu and having to miss class for it," he said. "My voice teacher got it, and I heard about that today, and I was like, 'Yeah I don't want that.'"
Student Kristen Lawton said getting a flu shot is not important to her and that she probably won't get one this season.
"I didn't get a flu shot because normally I just go to my doctor," she said. "I just didn't feel the need to get one."
Sophomore Ross Haney said he's not concerned about getting a flu shot because he doesn't think he is at risk for the virus.
"I don't really care," he said. "I don't think I'm going to get
the flu."
Spencer said students are often surprised to learn that flu shots from previous years do not necessarily protect against the flu every year because the virus can change its shape.
"It happens pretty regularly, to a small degree," she said. "That's why a new vaccine has to be made every year."
In addition to getting a new vaccine every season, Spencer said there are other precautions people should take to ensure they don't get sick.
Spencer said if people decide not to get vaccinated, they should wash their hands often and try to avoid crowded places. She also said students shouldn't share drinks.
Getting enough sleep, exercise, eating healthy foods and getting adequate hydration will help reduce chances of catching the flu, she said.
BOX:
Flu shots
Today
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
In the SUB near Higher Grounds
