By GAYLE WEBER

gweber@dailynews.net

Four cases of H1N1 have been confirmed in Ellis County, and the health department has seen more than a dozen other suspect cases. But vaccine for the newest flu strain is in limited supply.

Ellis County Health Administrator Butch Schlyer said vaccinations in schools are beginning this week. But so far, Schlyer has only 300 doses.

"It's coming in slow," Schlyer said of the H1N1 vaccine, which can be given only to children, pregnant women and health care workers.

Schlyer's department will vaccinate students at St. Mary Elementary School in Ellis today and at Washington Elementary School in Hays on Wednesday.

The county health department began monitoring school absenteeism in all county schools earlier this month. Schlyer said he has to report any school with more than 10 percent of its student body absent to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

"Out of all the schools I have ... I only had four that did not hit 10 percent," Schlyer said.

Last week, Victoria Elementary School averaged 25.5 percent of its student population absent and hit a high of 30.6 percent of students absent one day. In Hays, Washington Elementary averaged 24.7 percent of students absent and hit a high of 37.4 percent in one day.

"They want us to get into the schools as quick as we can, but we just need the vaccine to do that," Schlyer said.

The health department, after giving out more than 800 doses during a clinic last week, is out of seasonal flu vaccines.

"We're trying to get more. It's just hard to come by," Schlyer said.

As soon as more is available, Schlyer said he would let the public know.

Schlyer said he's in a tough position right now because there's not enough seasonal flu vaccine for the elderly, and there's not enough H1N1 vaccine for children.

"It could be a real nasty flu season," Schlyer said.

To help with the administration of H1N1 vaccine, the Ellis County Health Department received a third grant worth $82,323. Schlyer said he would use it to purchase office equipment and three new computers.

Schlyer said he likely wouldn't be able to use even half of the grant, so Ellis County Commission Chairman Perry Henman suggested paying rent to the county schools and other facilities the health department is using to administer flu vaccines.

In other business from Monday's commission meeting:

* Commissioners approved a zoning application fee schedule. The only change from last week's proposal was a $50 fee for permanent commercial sign permits.

* Commissioners approved an instruction sheet and a protest petition form to be included in the county's procedural guide for zoning regulations.