It's that time of year again—the warm weather is giving way to colder days, and sniffles and coughs are starting to punctuate lectures.

To protect students' health as winter arrives, Harvard University Health Services offers free flu shots. To get yours, just show up on the second floor of UHS on a Monday or Tuesday between 12 and 3 p.m.

Alternatively, you might be able to get the shot right in your dining hall. UHS nurses will be giving shots in Mather on Oct. 13, Lowell on Oct. 17, and Leverett on Oct. 19 from 5 to 8 p.m. each night.

If you do get sick, you can take advantage of free get-well supplies that are available to Harvard students. Just show your ID in the pharmacy in the Holyoke Center to claim a free cold kit. The pack, which students can get once every semester, contains items such as a thermometer, cough drops, antihistamines, and painkillers.

Whether you are used to warmer climes or well acquainted with frigid Massachusetts winters, taking a few precautions can help ensure that your health—unlike the warm temperatures—will be here to stay.