CHILDREN in Herefordshire will be offered a swine flu vaccination during the autumn term.

Health chiefs say there has been a surge in cases during the last fortnight and it’s now impossible to contain the virus.

The focus will be on treatment, in line with government policy.

The Department of Health will start a vaccination programme in September.

Tests show a core vaccine of two injections, three-four weeks apart, showed no serious side-effects.

The school nursing programme will provide the first vaccinations, while enough is available for the entire UK population.

The number of confirmed cases in Herefordshire is now unknown as GPs are making immediate diagnosis but cases were confirmed at John Masefield High School, Kingstone High School and Thruxton Primary School.

Parents at the latter received a letter and were allowed to keep children at home for the last few days of term.

Herefordshire Council spokesman Robert Blower said the authority had prepared a local helpline, but was waiting to hear about a national line.

“We’ve been told the national flu helpline should be up by the weekend, and that could mean we don’t need a local line,” he said.

And health chiefs have repeated calls for residents to appoint a “flu friend” to collect medicine on their behalf.

GP practices across the county have received authorisation vouchers for antiviral drugs.

The vouchers can be given to flu friends to collect medicines from six key pharmacies in Hereford and the market towns.

Medicines will only be presented with a voucher, without prescription charges.

NHS Herefordshire will open special collection points if demand exceeds capacity.