Santa and Swine Flue

American Santa’s have been demanded priority status for swine flu vaccinations as one of the many precautions that they are taking before the festival onslaught on snotty nosed children.

Doctors in America fear the traditional visit to Santa could become the primary cause of the spread of the swine flu virus.

Professional Santa’s organisation has gone as far as to urge members to boost their immune systems my taking vitamins as well as to install hand sanitizers at grotto entrances and exits as well as increased cleaning of suits and beards. Some shops have also given elves the additional duty of pulling out sickly looking children from queues.

Visiting Santa has become such an important part of American life at Christmas that some Santa’s have estimated that they see around 10,000 children each year. As a result of this Santa leaders have already asked congressmen in Washington to priorities their members for the swine flu vaccine and put them on par with health workers.

With all the panic in America, there is as always a chance that Britain will follow and it would seem that as with most things American, we are. West Orchard shopping centre in Coventry has for the first time this year installed hand sanitizer outside the grotto, as well as in the outdoor area where children can see Reindeer.

There is obvious and understandable concern from parents about the threat of Swine flu but in West Orchards at least they seem satisfied at the precautions taken not only for the Christmas season but also the ‘Sani-posts’ that have been installed on every level of the shopping centre.

Sarah Hurley a student teacher, who visits Santa every year with her nieces said, “Children are little germ factories, they are always going to get sick, and they are always going to cough and sneeze on people, there isn’t all that much that can be done about it. It’s good to know that shopping centres are taking some preventative measures but its madness to blame Santa for swine flu and if it goes too far it would ruin the experience for children.”