Wake County will begin holding flu vaccination clinics for the public next week. The cost is $30 for a shot or nasal spray, which protect against seasonal and H1N1 flu, and no appointment is necessary.

The first event is Friday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m., in Clinic E of the Public Health Center, 10 Sunnybrook Road, Raleigh.

The vaccine is recommended for everyone older than 6 months. Children ages 6 months to 8 years who are getting their first flu vaccine could need a booster dose one month after the first vaccine.

Payment is expected at the time of service. Wake County accepts cash, checks, Medicare Part B, Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield and North Carolina Health Choice. Clients with Medicare HMOs or other insurance should bring an insurance card and will be required to pay for their flu vaccine at the time of service.

There is no charge for:

•Uninsured, pregnant women
•Family members, caregivers or other close contacts to infants less than 6 months of age
•Students attending any college or university in North Carolina
•Children who qualify for the federal government’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program.

To qualify for vaccines under the VFC program, children must be younger than 19 years of age and at least one of the following:

•Uninsured
•Under-insured
•Medicaid recipient
•American Indian or Alaskan Native

Additional clinics will be held at the following times and locations. Appointments are required at some locations.

Cary
Monday, Oct. 15
Bond Park Community Center
150 Metro Park Drive
1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
No appointment needed.

Fuquay-Varina
Each Monday and Thursday beginning Oct. 4
Southern Regional Center
130 N. Judd Parkway
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Appointments strongly encouraged. Call 919-557-2501.

Knightdale
Thursday, Oct. 18
Knightdale Public Safety Center
967 Steeple Square Court
3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
No appointment needed.

Raleigh
Thursday, Oct. 4
Public Health Center Ground Floor Atrium
10 Sunnybrook Road
3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
No appointment needed.

Monday, Oct. 22
Historic Yates Mill County Park
4620 Lake Wheeler Road
2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
No appointment needed.

Monday, Oct. 29
Western Wake Fire and Rescue
4021 District Drive
3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
No appointment needed.

Wake Forest
Fridays, Oct. 12, 19 and 26
Northern Regional Center
350 E. Holding Ave.
Call 919-562-6300 for an appointment.

Thursday, Nov. 15
Northern Regional Center
350 E. Holding Ave., Room 165
3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
No appointment needed.

Zebulon
Eastern Regional Center
1002 Dogwood Drive
Call 919-404-3900 for an appointment.

For more information, visit www.wakegov.com/humanservices.