Flu shots are set to arrive at the Covington County Health Department in October.

Tuesday, health department officials announced four flu shot clinics at Andalusia and Opp locations.

In Andalusia, clinics will be held at the CCHD on Ala. Hwy. 55 on:

• Wed., Oct. 2;

• Wed., Oct. 9;

• Wed., Oct. 16; and,

In Opp, the clinic will be held on the second floor of Mizell Memorial Hospital on Mon., Oct. 7.

Each clinic will be held between 8 a.m. and noon.

There is a $5 fee for each vaccination; however, insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, will be billed if a card is presented.

Earlier this month, health officials urged residents to be vaccinated against the flu.

Ricky Elliott, spokesman for the Covington County Health Department, said residents, especially those who are more susceptible to the disease, should start making preparations. Those who are pregnant, living with diabetes or asthma, or undergoing cancer treatment, are also urged to get a flu shot as early in the flu season as they can, to help prevent the illness.

While the extremely young and old are also at a higher risk of catching the flu, parents of newborns are told to wait until the child is 6-months-old before the baby can receive the treatment.

“We start giving shots to children when they are 6-months-old because they don’t have as many antibodies built up in their systems as we do,” Elliott said.