By Sondra Rodriguez, Student Reporter

The ACU Medical Clinic is pricking students with flu shots in their attempts to avoid the immobilized lifestyle comprised of sleep, liquids and antibiotics caused by the illness, which is the second-most common reason for a student to drop a class midsemester.

The clinic offered shots in the Campus Center’s Living Room Tuesday and also is making them available in the clinic on the main level of McKinzie Hall every Tuesday and Thursday. The $25 vaccinations are offered in the Living Room again on Nov. 20 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and can be charged to a student account.

Kathy Stokes, clinic office manager, said no appointment is necessary for walk-ins, and encouraged students to get the vaccine.

“Hopefully students will take advantage of it after the outbreak we had last year,” she said.

According to Optimist archives, the flu hit campus so hard that the clinic was forced to send students off-campus for medical attention. Staff members in the clinic were treating 25-30 victims everyday, starting in mid-January.

Stokes said the clinic only ordered 300 shots last year and almost 500 shots this year.

“We haven’t given as many as we’d like in the past, but we’re expecting to sell out this year because we’ve opened the offer to faculty and staff,” she said. “If we sell out, we’ll purchase more this year.”

Haley Bulls, senior speech pathology major from Paris, said she definitely will get the shot within the next few weeks.

“I’ve always done everything I can to stay healthy,” Bulls said.

She said the fact that the fee can be charged to her student account made the decision easier, although she said she will most likely not get the shot in the Campus Center.

“I’ll do it in the clinic; I don’t want people to be watching me when I get it,” she said. Because viruses in the shot are inactive, it is not possible to get the flu from the shot, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. However, students should be aware of possible side effects that include soreness, redness or swelling in the area the shot was given, a small fever and body aches. Bulls said she will take her chances on suffering from side effects of the vaccine if it means she will avoid having to endure the flu during school.

“Other than out of habit, I always get the shot,” she said. “I’d rather go through that then get behind and be sick for weeks.”