Cosumnes River College health officials have urged the student body and faculty to get their flu shots as winter approaches.

Flu season is at its peak during the winter months and tapers off until late spring.

The vaccine prevents the flu in 50 to 60 percent individuals who get vaccinated, according to a Sacbee article.

CRC’s campus nurse Fran Koscheski said faculty and students should get their flu shot every year. “The benefits outweigh the side effects,” Koscheski said.

The body’s immune response from vaccination declines over time. An annual vaccine is needed for optimal protection, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Besides getting vaccinated, there are other alternatives that may reduce the chances of getting infected.

“Wash your hands frequently, stay home if you are sick, exercise, sleep and reduce stress,” Koscheski said.

There are two types of vaccines that people can receive: the injection and the nasal spray.

After vaccination, it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in order to provide protection against the influenza virus infection, according to the CDC.

Flu shots are now available and it’s recommended to get them as soon as possible.

Pang Xiong, 26, a health administration major said the general public should get flu shots to prevent getting illnesses. “I get a flu shot every year,” she said.

Use common sense such as covering your mouth when sneezing or coughing, as well as washing your hands frequently, Xiong said.

Flu viruses are constantly changing and the formulation of the flu vaccine is reviewed each year and sometimes updated to keep up with changing flu viruses, according to the CDC.

Photography major Junilyn Natividad, 27, is also a registered nurse. She recommends getting a flu shot every year.

She works with patients that range from the young to the elderly and who have low immune systems.

Natividad said everyone should to get their flu shots because the body will be better prepared and would have lower risk of infection.

CRC is aiming to set up a flu shot clinic sometime this fall. “We are still negotiating time and place,” Koscheski said.

There are still some logistical issues to figure out and Koscheski said they are “still negotiating time and place,” of where the flu shot vaccinations can take place.