Last fall, students and professors alike were recovering from the vicious flu spreading around campus and the country. No one enjoys a stuffed nose, scratchy throat, vomiting, and perpetual headache. Despite this, I see many forego their annual flu shot. The explain their reasoning of how the flu shot does not work, they hate shots, mercury in the vaccine, or they don't fall ill easily. Each of these reasons is a weak excuse to avoid protecting yourself from a week of illness. As a college student, missing a week of classes is hard to bounce back from, even more so when you are not at optimum health.

Excuse number one: the flu shot does not work. This may have some truth to it, but getting a flu shot and still contracting the flu is not a waste of time. There are three strains of the flu that affect humans. A and B are most common. These strains are the ones frequently present during the flu season. Strain C is less common and less severe.

Every year, scientists try their best to predict which strain of the flu with an attack. A new vaccine is made to combat the potential type of flu. Therefore, if the flu is predicted to be mostly A and the actual flu is mostly B, then the shot won't be as effective. This is what happened last year. Nonetheless, even if the flu shot does not prevent the flu, it reduces the severity of flu symptoms.

Excuse number two: despising injections. I sympathize, I do, as I hate needles and injections. However, a miniscule prick that takes less than a minute for protecting against an illness is worth the moment of discomfort. Although people complain of temporary symptoms of soreness, swelling, or headaches from receiving a shot, these often disappear after a day. Not tensing up reduces soreness and averting your gaze makes the process much easier. Another option is nasal inhalation which bypasses syringes altogether.

Excuse number three: mercury in the flu shot. Thimerosal is an ethylmercury preservative which prevents contamination in multidose vials. Small doses of ethylmercury are not harmful. On the other hand, methylmercury is harmful. Using thimerosal allows a vaccine vial to be used multiple times subsequently reducing costs. If it's still a concern, nasal doses and a pre-filled syringe do not contain the preservative.

Excuse number four: rarely becoming sick. There is a first time for everything and one year could be the first time you ever catch the flu. Furthermore, when you opt for the vaccine, those who are unable such as the elderly, infants, and those with severe allergies, are protected. The more people who are vaccinated against the flu means less circulation of the flu.

It takes two weeks for a flu shot to become effective, so get your shot as soon as possible to avoid contracting the flu. There are more benefits to being vaccinated. This year, if you haven't already, get your flu shot as soon as possible.