ATTLEBORO - News on the flu front is good and bad.

First the good: There's still plenty of vaccine, and health departments in Attleboro and North Attleboro are giving free shots to any state resident over the age of 6 months.

Anyone who hasn't had a shot should get one, officials said.

And now the bad. Unfortunately, the vaccine is less effective than national health officials expected at the beginning of the season. It protects against only 40 percent of the flu bugs in circulation, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Usually, flu vaccines protect in 70 to 90 percent of cases. But while the vaccine is not fully effective in 60 percent of flu cases, it can make the disease milder and prevent flu-related complications, CDC officials said.

As a result of the less effective vaccine, flu frequency has spiked nationally, with 44 states, including Massachusetts, reporting "widespread" cases.

Last week 31 states reported widespread cases, according to the CDC. Flu cases usually peak in at the beginning of February and CDC officials said it's too early to know if this flu season will be worse than usual.

In Massachusetts, flu has been categorized as widespread for the third consecutive week, indicating a more intense flu season than last year.

Medical facilities reported that 3.38 percent of patient visits for the week ending Feb. 9 were for "flu-like illnesses," which is higher than any week in the last two flu seasons, according to the state Department of Public Health.

North Attleboro health nurse Anne Marie Fleming said there have been "a lot of upper-respiratory illnesses" in the area recently, with "some" cases of flu.

"It's not too bad locally," Fleming said.

In addition to vaccine, officials said that possible preventative steps include frequent hand-washing and covering coughs to prevent the spread of germs.

In Attleboro, flu shots will be available in the health department at city hall on Wednesday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., and Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m.

Shots also will be given on Thursday, Feb. 28 from 9 to 10 a.m. Persons over the age of 65 need to bring all medical insurance cards.

For more information, Attleboro health nurse Jacquie O'Brien can be reached by calling city hall at 508-223-2222.

In North Attleboro, persons wanting a flu shot can call or e-mail for an appointment.

Fleming, the town's health nurse, can be reached at 508-699-0104 or contacted by e-mail at amfleming@north-attleboro.ma.us.

GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.