Health Departments in seven area counties including Bryan and Liberty will offer flu shots free for people, who do not have insurance, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9.

Shots will be given to people 3 and older on a first come basis while supplies last.

Flu is widespread throughout Georgia and more than 300 people have been hospitalized with flu-related illness across the state. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu season peaks December-February, but can last into spring.

“This has been an extremely rough flu season and the entire country has been hit hard,” Coastal Health District Health Director Lawton Davis, MD, said. “It’s not too late to get vaccinated against the flu and we want to encourage those who have not been vaccinated to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and sometime diarrhea or vomiting.

There are other things we can all do to prevent getting or spreading the flu:

* Avoid close contact with sick people.

* If you get sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. The fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medications.

* While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

* Try to cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow and not your hand, or cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

* Throw the tissue in the trash.

* Wash your hands with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

* Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.

* Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.

For more information on the flu and vaccine, go to cdc.gov/flu.