Dodge the charging assailant as you draw your weapon. Really. To cover that much distance that fast makes changing directions at the point of anticipatred impact nearly impossible, so dodging and drawing prevents the knife attacker from getting a stab or even a clean slash into your vitals.
Absolutely, you should dodge.
We were additionally instructed to take this step if one does not dodge and the assailant armed with a knife is right in front of him: fall backwards to the ground and shoot the bastard as you fall. It’s the only way you survive under that situation.