Flu vaccine shots will soon be available from the Health Service Center.

The Health Services ordered about 1,200 shots which should be received on Oct. 1, said Lynette Drake, Eastern’s Health Service Medical Director.

She recommends that students get the shots.

“(The vaccines) help keep you healthier,” Drake said.

The flu vaccines are free to students, Drake said. However, faculty and staff members who wish to have the flu vaccinations must go through Health Management; faculty management will pay for faculty and staff members to have the vaccinations.

“The flu shots protect you from different strains (of the flu) that are out there,” Drake said.

However, getting the flu vaccination will not prevent students from getting sick.

“It may not eliminate it (flu), but it will reduce you from getting sick,” Drake said.

Some symptoms of the flu are high fever that lasts three or four days, headaches, severe aches and pains, fatigue or weakness for two or three weeks and extreme exhaustion. Occasionally, students may get a stuffy nose, sneezing, or a sore throat.

Some complications that come from the flu, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, can be life threatening.

It is best for students to make an appointment to have vaccine, but not required, Drake said.

The Health Service Center plans to have a flu clinic, where extra staff will be at Health Services to give flu vaccinations, Drake said. Students will be able to walk into Health Services and request to get a flu vaccination, but they will have to wait in line with everyone else who needs something done in Health Services.