When students lined up in the kitchen Tuesday morning to receive H1N1 flu shots, the scene was a reminder of what Uni went through in late October, when scores were absent due to sickness. Though the rampant absences finally subsided by the beginning of this month, the effects are still being felt as students and faculty alike play catch-up.

Director Jeff Walkington announced today that the McKinley Health Center will give the H1N1 vaccine at Uni beginning 8:30 a.m. Monday. The vaccinations will most likely take place in Uni Gym. The only form of vaccine available is the live intranasal form. Walkington advised parents to contact their health-care provider if they are not sure their children should receive the vaccine.

The number of Uni High students absent today reached 120, or 38.6 percent of the student body. This compares to Thursday, when 91 were absent. Subbies and freshmen were especially hard hit, with those classes missing 27 and 36 students, respectively. That translated into 43.5 percent of the subbies and 56.1 percent of the freshmen.

"We are not planning to close Uni for health reasons at this time," Director Jeff Walkington said in a message to students and staff today. Some 91 students, or 29.3 percent of the student body, were out sick today, many with flu-like symptoms. Read on for more of Walkington's message.

Even though the news has been filled recently with headlines about an H1N1 vaccine, simple preventive measures such as these are still an effective way to keep swine flu at bay. Read on for more about what Uni High has been doing to contain the threat of H1N1, and find out what makes this illness different from the normal flu.