Seattle -
Lines to see Santa will soon be as long as those lines to get the swine flu vaccine. Some malls are taking extra steps to keep things properly sanitized.
Santas are also appealing to a higher power to keep themselves and the kids who love them safe from swine flu. Because of the short supply of swine flu vaccine, Santas are lobbying the government to be put right up there with pregnant women and health care workers. They know kids carry germs, and want to be protected.
"My health is always important to me and the children's health is important to me. I don't want to be a carrier and get anybody sick," says the Santa at the Alderwood Mall.
Santas say they have more contact with children during the holiday season than most people.
"I see more children in one year than any one health care provider is going to see in three or four years because we see over 40,000 children here during the holidays," says Santa.
This year, some Santas are ditching the white gloves so they can use hand sanitizer. Others will wash their suits daily instead of once a week. The President of a group called "Santa America" is even asking Congress to consider making Saint Nick among those considered a priority for the swine flu vaccine.
"About a third of our Santas are obese which means they are 100 or more pounds overweight. It's the underlying diseases like diabetes, asthma and heart disease that put our Santa's at risk," says President Ernest Berger.
Berger asked Republican Rep. Jo Bonner in Alabama to work with the CDC and get all Santa volunteers around the country in the high-risk group for the vaccine. In the meantime, malls are asking parents to use common sense and keep kids home if they aren't feeling well.
Santas are also appealing to a higher power to keep themselves and the kids who love them safe from swine flu. Because of the short supply of swine flu vaccine, Santas are lobbying the government to be put right up there with pregnant women and health care workers. They know kids carry germs, and want to be protected.
"My health is always important to me and the children's health is important to me. I don't want to be a carrier and get anybody sick," says the Santa at the Alderwood Mall.
Santas say they have more contact with children during the holiday season than most people.
"I see more children in one year than any one health care provider is going to see in three or four years because we see over 40,000 children here during the holidays," says Santa.
This year, some Santas are ditching the white gloves so they can use hand sanitizer. Others will wash their suits daily instead of once a week. The President of a group called "Santa America" is even asking Congress to consider making Saint Nick among those considered a priority for the swine flu vaccine.
"About a third of our Santas are obese which means they are 100 or more pounds overweight. It's the underlying diseases like diabetes, asthma and heart disease that put our Santa's at risk," says President Ernest Berger.
Berger asked Republican Rep. Jo Bonner in Alabama to work with the CDC and get all Santa volunteers around the country in the high-risk group for the vaccine. In the meantime, malls are asking parents to use common sense and keep kids home if they aren't feeling well.
