Cold and flu season goes from December to February and that means the virus will start spreading like wildfire soon. The Vinson Health Center is offering the flu vaccine free for students.

This year there is a new vaccine, the quadrivalent vaccine. It is the best vaccine in terms of limiting side effects and hospitalizations, according to campus health center officials.

Keith Williamson, MSU medical director, said the new quadrivalent vaccine has fewer risks than the trivalent vaccine.

According to Tiffany Kosse, the medical office manager, the current vaccine costs $8,000 per 500 doses. However, the shot isn’t for everyone. Certain sickness and disorders can prevent people from getting the shot.

“I recommend the shot to everybody on campus that doesn’t have a contraindication, which is a complication that prevents you from getting the shot,”Williamson said.

Williamson said the three contraindications are moderate to severe illness, Guillain-Barré syndrome within six weeks of a prior flu vaccine, or a severe allergic reaction to the flu vaccine.

People that have gotten the quadrivalent vaccine haven’t yet seen any side effects.

Tim Biggs, a mechanical engineering junior, got his about a week ago.

“I haven’t seen any complications so far. I have had issues in the past with vaccines such as body aches and a small rash, but not with this one,” Biggs said.

Williams said he has never seen complications with previous vaccines or with the one that the Health Center is offering this year.

However, some people are still worried about complications.

Cici Gossett, social work junior, said, “Every time I, or one of my friends have gotten the shot, they end up being a little sick, or getting some other sort of side effect, so I don’t trust it.”

The last day for appointment times is Oct. 30 from 1:30-4p.m.