NEW collection points for swine flu medication are now open in pharmacies across the county. NHS Hertfordshire has equipped five pharmacies to issue antivirals to those who have an authorisation number from the National Pandemic Flu Service phone line or

NEW collection points for swine flu medication are now open in pharmacies across the county.

NHS Hertfordshire has equipped five pharmacies to issue antivirals to those who have an authorisation number from the National Pandemic Flu Service phone line or website.

Dr Jane Halpin, Director of Public Health at NHS Hertfordshire, said: "The number of swine flu cases reported in Hertfordshire remains low and we are now moving forward with our plans to manage the second wave of the pandemic.

"Our initial antiviral collection points (ACPs) in Welwyn Garden City and Watford have been working well since they opened during the peak of the first wave back in July. But now that numbers of swine flu cases have decreased to very low levels, it isn't the best use of our clinical resources to keep these two centres open.

"Instead we have equipped a number of local pharmacies across the county to work as antiviral collection points.

"The new pharmacy collection points will work in the same way as previous ACPs - flu friends must bring the authorisation number given by the National Pandemic Flu Service, along with a valid form of ID for themselves and for the person they are collecting for."

The collection point at Campus West in Welwyn Garden City will close at 7.30pm today (Wednesday), with the collection point at Watford Town Hall closing at 4pm on Monday, September 14. From then on, antiviral medication can be collected from:

Lloyds Pharmacy

Unit C, Fawkon Walk

Hoddesdon

EN11 8TJ

Rooneys Chemist

4 Dolphin Square

Tring

HP23 5BN

Asda Pharmacy

98 Town Centre

Hatfield

AL10 0JP

Sanjivani Pharmacy

34 Fleming Crescent

Hertford

SG14 2DJ

Boots Waterfields Retail Park

New Road

Watford

WD17 2EU