Nov 20, 2009 6:07 am US/Eastern
Store Santas Want Priority On H1N1 Vaccine Lists
Holiday Santas Hope To Get Vaccine To Ensure They Spread Christmas Cheer, Not H1N1 Virus
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Noah Sheray, dressed as Santa Claus, receives a flu shot from Sandra Mohan during an offer for free flu shots for Santas at the Pennington Institute for Health and Wellness in this Dec. 22, 2004, file photo in Washington, D.C.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Santas around the world have more to worry about this year than simply making their lists and checking them twice.
With the H1N1 virus spreading so fast, there are serious concerns about Santas' health.
'Tis the season where kids everywhere are looking for something from Santa, but with the H1N1 virus, national Santa groups want to make sure only holiday cheer is being spread. The country's Santas want to get special priority to get special priority for the H1N1 vaccine.
"I met with my congressman and asked the assistance of seeing if we could get Santa moved up on the priority list within the public health system," Santa Ernest Berger, president of Santa America, said.
The big guy in red sure gets a full bag of germ exposure. Busy mall Santas see up to 400 children each day, and around 4,000 by Christmas day.
"Let's make one point clear: many of our Santas are clinically obese and the diseases that accompany that obesity put them in a high risk group," Berger said.
The Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas in Philadelphia usually gets together to shop for red fabric to make their suits, but this year's preparations also include plans to guard against the swine flu.
The group discussed wearing plastic gloves and even masks, but didn't want to ruin the experience.
Still, Santas and kids will be using hand sanitizers. Also , the red suit will be dry cleaned daily, rather than the customary week.
The goal: to make sure that Santa is still jolly, not germy.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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