Will You Be Getting a Flu Shot This Year?

Sophomore business major Maria Herold said there is absolutely no way she will be getting a flu shot this year, or any year for that matter.

“Just the thought of getting a shot already freaks me out, something about inserting the flue virus into my body seems very scary and unnatural to me,” Herold said.

“My parents always taught me that you could keep a healthy immune system through other measures.”

Herold is just one of many Americans who decide against getting vaccinated as flu season quickly approaches. Last January, the Washington Post reported that 64.8 percent of Americans did not get flu vaccinations.

Sophomore business major Morgan Grunberg has also never received the flu shot.

“I just think it’s unnecessary,” Grunberg said.

“I have never gotten the flu shot before, so I don’t see how getting the show would make a difference this year.”

Grunberg added that her parents discourage her from getting the flu shot, as well as other optional vaccines such as the Gardasil shot, which provides protection against the Human Papilloma virus.

Nonetheless, there are still students who make getting their flu shot every year a priority.

After sophomore business major Samantha Cavallo got the flu in high school, she gets her flu vaccination at the very first chance she is given.

“Having the flu was literally one of the worst experiences of my entire life,” Cavallo said.

“I don’t want to risk ever going through being that sick again, and I have never heard of anyone being harmed from getting a flu shot.”

Sophomore engineer major Alex Unger agreed with Cavallo, and said he does not understand why any would would decide against receiving the vaccination.

“Even if you don’t like getting shots, a lot of places have the flu mist available,” Unger said.

“All you have to do is inhale the mist through your nose, and it’s done.”

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that any person over the age of six months old should get the flu vaccination once a year to protect themselves against the illness.

Getting the vaccination on campus is easy. According to the University of Maryland’s Health Center website, students can get a free flu shot or $20 mist after making an appointment.

Additionally, students can receive flu shots at any CVS pharmacy on a walk-in basis.  The pharmacy also accepts certain forms of insurance, making the vaccination discounted or free for some.