KJCT8.com - Grand Junction, Montrose - Weather, News, Sports | Mesa Mall: Use your hand 'Santa-tizer'
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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) -- Mesa Mall is concerned about keeping Santa healthy this holiday season. They recommend those feeling under the weather to stay away.
This comes just after many of the nation’s Santas want to be given priority for the H1N1 vaccine.
Swine flu has become such a concern that the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas urged its members to use hand sanitizer and take vitamins to boost their immune systems.
Ernest Berger, president of another group called Santa America, wants health officials to designate Santas a priority group for the swine flu vaccine, like health care workers or infant caregivers.
Berger estimates that about two-thirds of all American Santas are overweight, and about a third are morbidly obese.
That raises health concerns because some research has suggested obesity could be a risk factor for severe swine flu.
Mesa Mall is taking extra precautions and encouraging visitors to use hand sanitizers available at the Santa Set.
