Montgomery County health officials are urging residents 6 months and older to get their seasonal flu vaccinations.

The health department will offer flu vaccinations at its Public Health Clinic in the Reibold Building during the week.

A separate flu shot clinic also has been scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Montgomery County Administration building, 451 W. Third St., Dayton, in the first floor lobby.

Flu season officially begins in October, though dozens of people around the state were sickened over the summer by H3N2v, a new flu virus contracted from infected swine.

It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to offer full protection against flu, said Bill Wharton, spokesman for Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County.

Vaccines available include FluMist (the nasal spray) for people 2 to 49 years; intramuscular vaccine for children 6 months to 18 years; intradermal vaccine for adults 18 years to 64 years; and high-dose influenza vaccine for adults 65 and older.

The health department will give flu shots from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Fridays at the Public Health Clinic, 117 S. Main St., Dayton.

The health department bills all commercial insurers, as well as Medicare Part B and Medicaid. There is no office co-pay for flu vaccinations. Self-pay adult patients will pay $21, or $32 for the high-dose vaccine. The self-pay fee for children 6 months to 18 years is $12. Cost is based on ability to pay, and no one will be turned away.