With final exams approaching, students, in an effort to study hard core, often compromise their health. Couple this with the onset of winter weather and a recipe for sore throats and achy muscles emerges.

“Influenza or the ‘flu’ is a viral infection that is transmitted through respiratory systems causing mainly fever, cough, muscle aches and sometimes a sore throat,” said Nancy Z. Delaney, M.D., of the Student Health Center. “Usually it will last only five to seven days.”

“About 10 to 20 percent of the United States get the flu each year, and about 20,000 will die from the flu and complications,” Delaney said. “Students are at risk for getting the flu because they spend time in enclosed environments, such as classrooms and dormitories.”

Delaney recommends the influenza vaccine to lessen the risk of catching the virus or at least lessening the associated symptoms. Although the shot does not guarantee complete protection, it significantly decreases one’s odds and the severity of each case.

“The flu vaccine has three different strains. The strains are selected on the basis of the ones most likely to show up in the U.S. that year. If the choice is correct, the vaccine is 70 to 90 percent effective in preventing the flu in healthy people under the age of 65,” Delaney said.

The majority of individuals who receive the immunization are protected for the duration of the season and begin experiencing the immunity roughly two weeks after the shot.

Among the individuals Delaney recommends to get the vaccine are students living in residence halls or other crowded conditions.

Some individuals, however, should not receive the vaccine, including those with allergies to eggs, people who have reacted badly to a previous flu shot, individuals with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, pregnant women or those who are already ill, Delaney said.

To prevent getting ill this winter, Delaney suggests frequent handwashing to eliminate germs on doorknobs, tabletops and other such objects. In additional, she advises against being around sick individuals and notes that once one has the flu, antibiotics prove futile since the flu is viral.

“However, there are some antiviral prescription medications that when taken within 72 hours of onset may help to shorten the course and the severity of the illness,” she said.

Delaney also dispelled the myth that the flu shot can infect people with the flu. A killed strain is used so no live strain can infect the body.

The Health Center, located in Marchetti East, currently has the vaccine and charges $10 per shot.

Delaney said that October and November are the optimal months to receive the vaccine, as January, February and March are the worst months for the flu.

“However, getting the vaccination as late as January is acceptable,” Delaney said.

Among the few symptoms one may experience after receiving the vaccination are a sore arm at the spot of injection, fever and muscle aches, symptoms similar to those of the actual flu virus.