LEBANON — Flu clinics are scheduled to start later this month at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, ahead of the winter respiratory virus season. Community-based clinics are to take place next month.

To reduce the risk of disease and potentially serious complications, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual vaccination against the flu for everyone 6 months and older.

The clinics at DHMC are by appointment only, according to the Dartmouth Health website. Shots can be scheduled online at myDH.org or by calling 603-653-3731. DH will bill the insurer for people with health insurance but will offer the shots free of charge to those without insurance.

The clinics for adults and children 12 and older are to take place at DHMC, level 5M, starting Sept. 18 and running through Nov. 17. They will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12 to 6 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 4: 2 to 6 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 14: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 29: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For those under the age of 12, clinics will be held at DHMC Pediatrics at reception 6L, starting Sept. 11 and running through December. Pediatric flu clinics will be available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Additional family clinics will be held on Oct. 7 and Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Community-based flu vaccination clinics also have been scheduled in several locations across the Upper Valley. These clinics are walk-in only and free to all. The clinics are offering regular-dose vaccines and enhanced vaccines for people ages 65 and older. They are open to all adults and children 10 and older:

■Saturday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Plainfield Elementary School, 92 Bonner Rd, Meriden

■Wednesday, Oct. 11, from 4 to 7 p.m.; Oxbow High School, 36 Oxbow Drive, Bradford, Vt.

■Thursday, Oct. 12, from 4 to 7 p.m.; Enfield Community Building, 308 US Route 4, Enfield

■Saturday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Orford Congregational Church, 617 NH Route 10

■Friday, Oct. 27, from 4 to 7 p.m., Mascoma Community Health Center, 18 Roberts Road, Canaan

Clinics have not been scheduled at Dartmouth Health member hospitals, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, New London Hospital or Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center in Windsor.

Nora Doyle-Burr can be reached at ndoyleburr@vnews.com or 603-727-3213.