Flu shots may not be as popular this year as they have been in the past.
Fred Kam, director of the Auburn University Medical Clinic, said he estimates the clinic treats a few hundred cases of the flu every year.
"Generally, we give out more than 600 vaccines," Kam said. "This year I don't think we've done 200."
Kam listed several reasons students may choose to forego the shot.
"Some people don't want to get a shot," Kam said. "For some people it's the money. Others just don't feel they're going to get the flu. It's a 'not-me' syndrome."
Meghan Dooley, sophomore in radio, television and film, said she doubts the effectiveness of flu shots and whether they're worth the investment.
"They're pretty expensive, and I don't think they do much," Dooley said. "I'm not a huge fan of shots in general, but if I thought I was going to get sick this winter or fall, I would get one. But I don't think I am."
Cassie Boyd, a pharmacy resident, has noticed a similar decrease in students and faculty coming in to get the vaccine.
"Last year and the year before there was that big scare with the swine flu," Boyd said. "Maybe it has dropped off a little bit because people don't feel as concerned, but it's still very important to get the shot because the flu is still going around."
Both Kam and Boyd said they encourage all students to receive the flu shot. The headaches, muscle aches and nausea caused by the flu disrupt daily life, inhibit academic success and ruin holiday plans.
"Imagine that you've just spent hundreds or even a couple of thousand dollars for your one-week vacation, and you lose the three to four days it will take to get over the flu," Kam said. "For $25, it's a good investment."
Kam said some students are concerned the flu shot will actually cause the illness, but he assures his patients that this is not a risk with the injectable vaccine.
"That's theoretically impossible," Kam said. "You can't get the flu because this is not a live virus in the flu vaccine."
Boyd said she believes the misconception arises from students who fall ill before the vaccine has the 10-14 days to become effective.
"The flu shot takes about two weeks to start having an effect," Boyd said. "So if you do get sick it's not due to the fact that you got the flu shot, it's that you were exposed to the virus before it kicked in."
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