Flu shots big on mall Santas' wish lists

SACRAMENTO, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Mall Santas across the United States say they should be moved up on the priority list for the H1N1 flu vaccine given their constant exposure to germ-laden kids.

Being the little petri dishes that they are, children are seen as prime suspects for passing the virus on to St. Nick, who in turn will infect every other kid who plops on his lap.

"When kids sit on my lap, they love to squeeze and hug me because my suit is so soft and velvet," California Santa Daniel Gormer told the Sacramento Bee. "All it takes is for one sick child to turn me into a ball of germs."

Ernest Berger, who heads up a national organization of seasonal Santas, told the newspaper he would wager that no other profession in American comes in contact with more children than Santas do during the Christmas shopping season.

The Bee noted Wednesday Santas are urging their colleagues to load up on vitamins and hand sanitizers and also forgo the cotton gloves this year since cotton tends to absorb germs.