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Should Santas Be on the List For Swine Flu Vaccinations
11/19/09 - 03:50 PM
Associated Press
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click for larger image Tallahassee, Fla:

Should Santa Claus be added to the list of high priority groups who should get vaccinated against H1N1 swine flu?

That’s what the national group “Santa America” is pushing for right now in the U.S. Congress. The group is asking the federal government to expand the list of priority groups so Santas can get the swine flu vaccine.

“Santa Roger” also performs for kids in preschools when he’s not dressed up as Old St. Nick and that’s where we found him.

He and Santas across the country will spend the holiday season with thousands of children sitting on their laps and sometimes sneezing, coughing and even wetting their diapers.

Santa Roger says he’s exposed to pretty much everything you can imagine. That’s why a lot of Santas say they’re in a high-risk category and ought to be able to get the H1N1 vaccine right now.

A limited supply has prompted health officials to reserve vaccine for such priority groups as pregnant women, children and adolescents, and people with chronic medical conditions.

“I feel yes, we are in danger and so therefore we need to take precautions. A lot of Santa photo mall photo want Santas to wear gloves and the gloves are really not a great idea as far as cleaning your hands.”

“Over the course of the season, we’re exposed to everything. everything you can imagine. When you’re in a mall situation and you’re there from morning until night for 6-7 weeks, you’re going to have thousands and thousands of children sitting on your lap and you’re exposed to everything.”

“If a parent has to stand in line for two hours and that child has used up every diaper they’re going to sit on your lap with a wet diaper and Santa can’t say no. You just go change your suit and put on another suit.”

Santa America leader John Scheuch is issuing recommendations to help Santas protect themselves from swine flu.

They include: not wearing gloves and using hand sanitizer after every child, encouraging kids to use sanitizer, asking children who appear to be sick to come back another time, and preventing children from burying their faces in Santa’s beard for a hug. If that happens, the group tells Santas to use sanitizer in their beards.

Scheuch says another reason Santas should be able to get the vaccine is because many of them are not in good shape. They are generally older and overweight with underlying medical conditions.

Scheuch emphasizes his group does not want to be selfish and move up the priority list at the expense of others, but he says Santas across the country will greet more children in the coming weeks than anyone else.

User Comments

I do believe the Santas should be vaccinated (if they so choose to be), not so much to protect them, but to help prevent the spread from child to child. This disease is most severe in young children, the ones Santa sees most often. Since there is a 1-5 day incubation period for H1N1, Santa could be carrying the disease, passing it on, and not know it. Plus, many parents have opted not to get their children vaccinated, so lots of kids will likely be catching and transmitting this disease over the holidays.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  11/20  at  06:31 AM
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