I absolutely hate needles. Every time I go to the pharmacy to get my yearly flu vaccination, I squeal. I'm terrified of how sharp and long they look. They remind me of my fear of bees and how they hurt you when they sting. Not a pretty image. But after my interview with my local Rite Aid pharmacist Bernard Gram, I became more aware of what a flu shot consists of and the importance of getting them. And, as much as I do not like getting shots, I would rather get a flu vaccine than end up sick for weeks.

Before you take my advice and get a flu shot, I would like to explain to you what a flu shot is. Gram explained to me that the flu shot comes in three forms as either a dead or an alive weaker version of the virus. The live virus is used in the nasal spray. Then, the dead virus is used in shot form. The shot can come in two ways: the trivalent and the quadrivalent flu shot. The difference between the two is that quadrivalent flu shots have more preventatives in them, but tends to cost a bit more. Most people who come into a pharmacy or a doctor's office to get a flu shot are usually given the trivalent vaccine unless they specifically ask for the quadrivalent.

For college students, it is vital to realize the multitude of benefits a simple shot can have. Most college students live in the dorms with 100 or so other people. When you are living in such close proximity to people daily, you realize soon after how easily germs can spread. If one person gets sick in your hall, the entire floor will most likely get sick. You are most likely interacting with people in the bathroom, in the cafeteria, and in lecture halls. Who knows how many germs they are carrying? By simply getting the flu vaccine, you can prevent illness and not have to make up classes just because of a cold that could have been prevented.

It is important to be able to distinguish the flu from your common cold. According to Gram, "The flu is viral. Usually when you sneeze, a clear liquid is released from your nose. The common cold is bacterial. You can also notice the difference when you blow your nose, as the bacteria will show an unclear liquid." By getting the flu shot, you can lower your likelihood of getting sick in the dorms.

Now there are always people who are against the flu vaccine. Some people do not get the vaccine due to religious reasons or a fear of needles. Although you might choose to do this, would you rather have to be sick when you are studying for final exams? On top of that getting everyone else sick.

There are also a lot of misconceptions about the flu shot. The largest misconception Gram believes is the fear of getting sick from the vaccine. Some believe that the flu vaccine causes them to get sick because a dead virus is being inserted in them.

But, according to the Center of Disease Control's (CDC) website,

"You may be exposed to a flu virus shortly before getting vaccinated or during the period that it takes the body to gain protection after getting vaccinated. This exposure may result in you becoming ill with flu before the vaccine begins to protect you. (About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection develop in the body)."

To clear this up, you might have already been exposed to the virus before you were given the vaccination. Ergo, that's the reason why you are feeling flu-like symptoms.

The flu shot is only a small dose of the flu, so the body is able to gain immunity to the virus and protect you from getting sick. If you do happen to get the flu throughout the year you get the shot, the flu should be shorter than if you did not get the vaccination. Therefore, you are short living the virus, which means less time being sick. Woo!

Also, if you do not get the vaccination and get the flu, there are worst medical conditions getting the flu can lead to. Gram claims that 2,000 to 5,000 people die in America each year due to severity and improper care from the flu. Therefore, it's best just to protect yourself!

The flu shot is a simple, fast, easy, and cheap way prevent yourself from getting sick. Especially if you are in college or working, it is necessary to be healthy in order to succeed. As a person who was able to overcome her fear of the flu shot, I know you can too. Also, if the "Big Bang Theory" characters can deal with a week of Sheldon's flu, I know you can beat the flu, too.