Flu vaccines are being made available to the public starting this week, Government has announced.

The shots will cost $10 and will be given from 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. every weekday at the Hamilton Health Centre, and on Wednesdays at the Somerset and St. George's Health Centres.

A Government advisory says that people most at risk should get the shots. These include people over the age of 65, health care providers, people in nursing homes and travellers.

People who are frail or who have a chronic heart or lung disease including asthma, people with diabetes, sickle cell anemia or immune system diseases are also advised to get the shots.

"The Center for Disease Control also recommends flu vaccines for young children over six months of age and women in the second and third trimester of pregnancy," the statement continues.

"Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection that is spread person to person by coughs and sneezes from an infected individual. It is not a serious infection for most people, but it is unpleasant and debilitating."

The advisory goes on to say that, for some people, catching the flu can lead to complications such as pneumonia and notes that some 20,000 people in the United States, mostly elderly, die each year due to flu complications. Over 600 cases were reported to the Health Department here in January and February last year, it continued. Peak flu season in Bermuda is the second half of January.

"Symptoms of flu develop two to four days after exposure and may be quite mild. However, more serious attacks may cause high fever with headache, muscle aches, fatigue and general malaise. There may also be cough, sore throat and runny nose. Most people recover after a few days and all that is needed is extra fluids and bed rest with aspirin (not for children with flu) or acetaminophen if they have fever or headache. If cough, fever or unwellness persist beyond a few days, or the patient is elderly or frail, they should be checked for complications, as antibiotics or other medications may be required."