SEEKONK - School officials are awaiting the arrival of a vaccine for H1N1 flu following two suspected cases of the flu in students.

Superintendent Madeline Meyer said the parents of two students claimed doctors had told them their children have the virus.

The two students with flu-like symptoms were kept out of school and did not require hospitalization, Meyer noted.

Pat Rok, the nurse at Seekonk High School, reported students had been sick for four to five days with "very high fevers."

However, Maureen Cardarelli, the town's public health nurse, said there were no confirmed cases of H1N1 in Seekonk, but there were many cases of Influenza A, which might be the swine flu. Until the vaccine arrives, school administrators and faculty members are doing what they can to keep students safe.

Rok noted teachers at the high school have discussed preventative hand-washing with students as a way to prevent the spread of germs.

"Parents need to keep their children home if they're sick," Cardarelli said.

Vaccination is priority

Cardarelli explained to the school committee the vaccination of the town's children was a top priority, noting many parents have requested the vaccine.

In the meantime, parents are asked to monitor their children with flu-like symptoms, which include a fever greater than 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny nose and fatigue.

If a child is at high risk because of asthma, diabetes, cardiac disease, a suppressed immune system or other conditions - and displays flu-like symptoms - parents are advised to call their health care provider immediately for possible treatment with antiviral medication.