Likewise, Ben S. Ory ’14 said he does not get the flu shot, despite getting sick about once every season.

“I don’t like needles, and I’m pretty sure that there are multiple strains of the flu going around at any one time, so I have never felt like it’s worth getting,” Ory said.

Although Rosenthal said most people who get sick from the flu experience only mild illness, those with other medical conditions, such as asthma and diabetes, may experience significant complications from the virus, including pneumonia, bronchitis, or other respiratory infections. He added that there are some fatal cases resulting from these complications each year in the United States.

Rosenthal said protection from the vaccine lasts through the flu season and in most individuals for up to a year.

Symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue. Rosenthal said he advises students who think they have symptoms of the flu to be evaluated at UHS or call to speak with a nurse to get advice.

—Staff writer Jane Seo can be reached at janeseo@college.harvard.edu.