LEWISTON (NEWS CENTER) -- As more and more swine flu vaccine slowly makes its way into Maine, schools and hospitals are seeing a sharp increase in the number of people suspected to have the H1N1 virus. One area hit hard in recent days is Lewiston.

Central Maine Medical Center has seen a 21 percent increase in the number of patients coming in with flu like symptoms this week. And the schools in Lewiston are seeing their absenteeism numbers averaging between 15 and 17 percent.

This, despite the fact that the Lewiston school system has vaccinated nearly half its population over the past 8 days. Many of the students who are becoming sick are those who have not been vaccinated. But it can take up to two weeks for the vaccine to fully protect a person, and so some students who were vaccinated are still getting the H1N1 virus.

School officials are urging parents to keep kids home if they have a fever and sore throat. The students are going to get sent home anyway, and they only help spread the virus.

In the meantime, CMMC has created a separate quarantine area for patients who seem to be exhibiting acute symptoms of H1N1. The hospital also has masks, Kleenex, and hand sanitizer available at each entrance.

CMMC is asking that patients with flu-like symptoms stay home unless their symptoms get much worse or they become dehydrated. They are not testing most patients who come in for swine flu, only those who end up being admitted to the hospital with more severe symptoms.