October is the unofficial start of flu season and the ACU clinic is offering flu shots to help keep students healthy.

Only 46 percent of Americans get the flu shot every year, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Even though the past few flu seasons have been mild, Influenza is notoriously unpredictable.

“I have taken the flu shot since I was a child and I have yet to get sick during flu season,” said Tommy Evans, junior marketing major from Southlake. “I am sold on the flu shot and plan on taking it again this year.”

ACU is offering the flu shot at the clinic behind Moody Coliseum. The flu shots are offered at $15, a relatively cheap price. Students can charge it to their account.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year.

Symptoms of the flu include feelings of a fever, cough, sore throat, headaches or fatigue. The ACU clinic began offering the shots in September and will continue to do so until they run out. The clinic expects to use all of their flu shots by mid November or early December. They are open from 8 – 10:30 a.m., closed during Chapel and open again from 1 – 4 p.m.

Not everyone agrees that flu shots are necessary to prevent illness.Many people are very hesitant about sticking a needle into their body.

“I will never put a needle in my body even if I have a chance of getting the flu. I just cannot do that and never will,” said Beth Goodall, junior special education major from Irving.

The flu vaccine is not equally effective for all people. It is most effective in healthy adults and young children. But the sooner the flu vaccine is administered, the better. The risk of getting the flu becomes greater further into the flu season.