CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Health departments across the state of Tennessee, including the Montgomery County Health Department, are offering free flu vaccines to the public on December 5.

“Getting a flu vaccine every year is the best way to protect yourself and your family from flu and its potentially serious complications” the TN Department of Health said in a release. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone aged six months and older get vaccinated against the flu every year.

Hours for the Montgomery County Health Department at 330 Pageant Lane are as follows:

Hours of Operation: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

The 2017 – 2018 flu season saw the highest number of flu-related deaths among children reported in a regular flu season, with 185 American children dying from seasonal flu, according to the CDC. About 80 percent of these children had not received a flu shot that flu season.

Influenza, or “the flu” is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes of flu infection can result in hospitalization or death. Some people, such as older people, young children and people with certain health conditions are at high risk of serious flu complications.

Regarding this year’s flu season, “We’re just starting with influenza now,” said the medical director for the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases, Dr. William Shaftner. “It’s picking up not only locally, but all around the country.  Flu usually peaks in the United States…in February, so it’s a rather extensive flu season, but it reminds us that it’s not too late to get vaccinated if we haven’t yet done so.”

Dr. Shaftner also said that they would like to persuade people to get vaccinated, “Not only for their own protection, but so that they won’t spread it to people around them…Those other people could get very, very seriously ill, so let’s all participate together for our own benefit, but also for the benefit of the whole community.”