Norwin Middle School's auditorium became a makeshift doctor's office on Monday and Wednesday, serving as the distribution point for the H1N1 vaccine.

Parents and children trickled in Monday, with the biggest rush of people seeking the vaccine coming after 3 p.m., when school let out for the day.

The district reported several cases of H1N1, with confirmed cases of the flu at Hahntown Elementary, Hillcrest Intermediate School and Norwin Middle School.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, about 3,000 confirmed cases of H1N1 have been reported in the state, with 14 deaths. Westmoreland County has 43 confirmed and three probable cases of H1N1.

North Huntingdon resident Trish Hanley and her daughter, Amanda, 8, a third- grader at Sunset Valley, were amongst those getting the nasal vaccination Monday.

"There is a lot of attention on the different severity of cases of the flu and a number of children getting sick and dying," Trish said. "We figured since it was offered for free, we couldn't pass it up."

Trish said knowing about cases H1N1 hitting the district made her decision to get the vaccination easier. Getting the vaccination, she said, was the only way she could decrease her daughter's chances of catching the virus.

"It's definitely going to put my mind at ease," Trish said.

Norwin received about 2,500 doses of the vaccine in October for district children and residents only, Superintendent John Boylan said. Administrators are sending any students showing flu-like symptoms home in an attempt to keep it out of the district.

Boylan could not confirm the number of cases verified in the schools, but said absenteeism has been slightly higher than usual.

"Not everyone who submits an excuse gives the exact reason, so they could be out of school for other reasons," Boylan said. "But H1N1 is spreading throughout the schools, and Norwin is no exception."

Boylan said the absentee rate isn't at alarming levels, but administrators plan to monitor it daily.

The flu has not canceled any school activities, and Boylan said he doesn't foresee it making an impact on them. Instead, administrators plan to remain proactive by offering the vaccine and encouraging good hygiene habits.

Boylan said the district should be on guard against H1N1.

"Whether it's official or unofficial, we probably have H1N1 in every building," he said. "I don't think there is any school that can claim they haven't been impacted by the flu in the same way."

The schools aren't the only venues keeping an eye on the virus. Personal care facilities and hospitals cautiously altering their operations.

This year, there will be no public Thanksgiving dinners, breakfasts with Santa Claus or holiday parties at Briarcliff Pavilion in North Huntingdon.

The specialized health care facility's coordinators aren't trying to play Scrooge this holiday season -- their decision is just one step being taken to prevent a H1N1 outbreak at the facility.

"It was a difficult decision because bringing people in for entertainment and activities is a big part of our daily operations,"

Bryan Evans, Briarcliff's administrator, said. "Our residents really look forward to it."

Briarcliff Pavilion is owned by PennMed Healthcare, which cancelled community activities across its 18 facilities in the Commonwealth in an attempt to reduce the spread of H1N1.

Although Briarcliff hasn't totally restricted visitors younger than 18, Evans said they strongly urge residents and visitors to leave the children and teenagers at home. It is also providing visitors with masks and encouraging the use of sanitary hand cleansers.

So far, Briarcliff saw one case of H1N1 affecting an employee, who was sent home, Evans said.

Any employee showing any symptoms must go home, he added.

"We're telling them it's okay to take time off and encouraging them stay home," he said. "We don't want any heroes here."

Kate Rosatti, director of Infection Prevention and Control at Excela Health, said H1N1 is common, but should be treated like any other seasonal flu.

"In this area, there is a good bit of H1N1 cases," Rosatti said. "About 99 percent of flu cases are H1N1 cases."

The strain of the flu virus ahs become so common, Rosatti said, that the Pennsylvania Department of Health requires patients to exhibit several symptoms before receiving tests. Without multiple symptoms, she said, patients must treat H1N1 like any other seasonal flu bug.

Patients exhibit shortness of breath, chest pain, sudden dizziness and the flu-like symptoms remain persistent, doctors will test for H1N1. But Excela Health officials discourage patients who suspect H1N1 from coming into the emergency room, Rosatti said. Instead, they should contact their primary physician for treatment.

"Coming into the emergency room does not improve treatments, it just puts patients in a larger population who could contract flu symptoms," Rosatti said.

Excela Health does not offer any public H1N1 vaccination clinics. The vaccination is only offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. As of Monday, the department's H1N1 site, www.h1n1inpa.com, reported no public clinics due to a backorder of the vaccination from the federal government.

"With the limited amount of vaccine for seasonal and H1N1 flu, we know it is very frustrating to patients and individuals because their awareness is heightened and they can't get a vaccine," Rosatti said. "All people can do about it is visit the Department of Health's website to see if there are any public clinics."