Free flu shots will be available at the Undergraduate Library, 1408 W. Gregory Drive in Urbana, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 and at Grainger Engineering Library, 1301 W. Springfield Ave. in Urbana, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 26.

The vaccinations are courtesy of the McKinley Health Center as a part of their initiative to provide shots to the campus community through the month of October.

All students, staff, state employees and retirees are eligible for the free vaccinations. Students who had paid the Health Service Fee must present a valid ID and state employees their State ID card.

For those who are unable to visit the library, vaccinations will be available at McKinley Health Center, 1109 S. Lincoln Ave. in Urbana, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until the end of October.

As the cold and flu season continues, McKinley encourages these preventative behaviors:

* Get adequate rest

* Have a balanced diet

* Engage in physical activity or exercise as much as possible

* Wash your hands whenever possible

* Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze

* Avoid contact with those who are feeling ill

* Avoid crowded, smoky environments

Additionally, students and faculty should watch for these common cold and flu symptoms:

* Runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion

* Sore throat, usually scratchy

* Dry cough

* High fever with chills

* Body or muscle aches

* Tiredness/weakness

* Headache

These self-care tips can be employed if a cold or the flu is contracted:

* Drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration

* Get plenty of sleep

* Wash your hands often

* Use a cool-mist humidifier to add moisture to the air

* Avoid using alcohol and tobacco

* Use over-the-counter medications to relieve muscle aches/pains and fever

* Stay home and avoid contact with other people

If symptoms persist, contact McKinley to schedule an appointment or call McKinley’s 24 hr. Dial-A-Nurse at 333-2700.

For more information on vaccinations, visit the “McKinley Health Center website”:http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/mhc.html.