SPOKANE -- Before your kids sit on his lap, Santa wants a swine flu shot. Santa says he wants to be protected from the hundreds of kids they see during the holidays.
Kids sit on Santa's lap, sick or well. Some Santas want to be classified the same as healthcare workers to receive the H1N1 vaccine. An association of Santas in the midwest is petitioning the federal government to give all mall Santas the vaccine. It's also the make sure they don't pass anything along to your kids.
Another big reason Santas want the vaccine is because obesity is a big underlying factor when it comes to complication from swine flu. And there's really no such thing as a thin Santa.
Fears over swine flu are also cancelling some Santa appearances. Sacred Heart Medical Center does its "Baby's first Santa visit" in the nursery around Christmas. This year, that's been cancelled.
