October is well known for being a scary month thanks to Halloween, but the scariest thing about October isn’t the haunted houses or scary movies but instead, the flu season.

Even though influenza happens throughout the year the Centers for Disease Control and prevention says that cases tend to peak around fall and winter months.

The CDC has many tips for preventing the flu which starts with the yearly flu shot, “Flu vaccines help to reduce the burden of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths on the health care system each year.” and has “also been shown to reduce the severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.”

Flu shots are recommended by the CDC to everyone 6 months and older, especially higher risk people like those with chronic health conditions like asthma or diabetes, pregnant people and young children.

Along with the vaccine the CDC recommends taking preventative actions like covering your coughs and sneezes, regularly washing your hands, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Many health care providers in Bakersfield provide little to no cost vaccinations with insurance as well as stores like CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens.

People without insurance can go to the student health and wellness center to receive help with the Medi-Cal application.

The director of the student health and wellness center Charles Collom said “We encourage students interested in vaccination to come talk to us so we can offer them help and guidance on how to proceed in a way that meets their needs.”