Jefferson County has agreed to cede half of its flu and pneumonia vaccinating duties to a private company in the hopes of lowering county expenses and customer costs.

Maxim Health Care Systems will operate about 24 clinics this year, which would allow the county Public Health Service to drop its number from 54 clinics last year to an estimated 27 events this fall.

The private company will offer flu shots locally for $30 and pneumoccocal vacines for $45. Public Health hasn't established its prices, but they are expected to be higher than Maxim's rates.

Legislators authorized the clinic arrangement in a 14-0 vote Tuesday. The partnership requires no exchange of money. Maxim has similar arrangements with Onondaga, Oneida and Madison counties' governments.