Upshur County School's Director of Student Services Jodie Akers said she keeps a countywide tally of day-to-day attendance.

She said Tuesday, 87 percent of students are in school, which the board is pleased with. Monday, attendance was at 89 percent.

"We continuously monitor our attendance but we are taking preventative measures," said Akers. "We have been tracking attendance on a daily basis and looking for pockets of concern."

On Monday, absences were at 11 percent. Tuesday, the numbers were up more.

"Our actual daily attendance for today is at 87 percent, which we're actually pleased with," Akers said.

Each school varies. For instance, Buckhannon Upshur Middle School was running at 81 percent capacity Tuesday. Tennerton Elementary is at 96 percent, but it has much fewer students.

The Upshur Buckhannon Health Department is offering flu clinics for those concerned parents, but be prepared: the Health Department says they didn't receive as many vaccines as they were expecting.

"They have to divvy it up between the 55 counties," said Josh Marsh, local health administrator. "They let us know 3 or 4 days in advance how much we'll be receiving."

School officials said they'll be addressing the issue at a state level.

"I know that is something we'll be discussing at the attendance director's conference at Canaan Valley actually starting tomorrow," said Akers. "That will be the top priority."

Akers said without further research, the school system can't say how many of those are H1N1 absences and who is keeping kids out of school to avoid catching it.

"We continuously monitor our attendance, but we are taking preventative measures," said Akers. "We have been tracking attendance on a daily basis and looking for pockets of concern and sharing attendance rates daily with the health department and other individuals that we're collaborating with."

The Upshur County Health Department is holding the first two H1N1 immunizations Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tuesday's clinic lasts until 6 p.m., and is for healthy children and health care workers 2 to 49.

Wednesday, the clinic will be held at the Buckhannon-Upshur High School and is for pregnant females and persons with low immunity four to 24 years of age.

People with the following health conditions are considered "immuno-compromised" and will be considered for Wednesday's intravenous immunizations.

- Cancer
- Blood disease (sickle cell disease)
- Chronic lung disorders (Asthma, COPD)
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Kidney disorders
- Liver disorders
- Neurological disorders (Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, mental retardation)
- Neuromuscular disorders (Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy)
- Weakened immune system (HIV, AIDS)
- Gastrointestinal disorders (Crohn's disease)
- People on medication that weakens the immune system (i.e. steroids)

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