Santa Claus is coming to town with more than just his elves, toys and reindeer this year - he's also packing his sleigh with hand sanitizer and disinfectant to prevent catching the H1N1 flu virus.

With 5 million to 13 million cases of H1N1, or swine flu, in children across the nation, parents and store owners are taking precautions to protect both Santa and his visitors.

"We are one of the cleanest stores in the state," said Mike Liascos, a spokesman for Stew Leonard's grocery store on the Berlin Turnpike in Newington. "We have the hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the store and we have Santa change his gloves every visit and dry clean his suit every weekend."

The hand sanitizers have been in place at Stew's since the outbreak of H1N1. They're also a fixture at the Westfield Meriden mall.

"We have hand sanitizers at various locations throughout the mall, including the Santa set," said Westfield Meriden representative Patrick Madden. "The safety of all mall patrons, Santa and employees of Westfield is of great importance."

Concerns about the swine flu haven't stopped parents from taking their children to see Santa.

Sarah Page of Meriden said recently that she planned to take her son, Ryder, to see Santa at Stew Leonard's.

"I think parents are getting too crazy with the swine flu. As long as your kids aren't putting their hands in their mouths and (are) washing their hands, they should be fine," Page said. "Why have your kids miss out on being able to see Santa? You can't stop your life."

Sarah Redman of Wallingford feels the same way.

"I will probably be taking my daughter, Laela, to see Santa, and honestly I'm not really all that worried," Redman said.

Laela, 3, and Ryder, 4, both received their regular flu shots and Redman plans to get Laela the H1N1 vaccine, she said.

Vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of H1N1 in children, according to Meriden Health and Human Services Director Beth Vumbaco.

"At this point, H1N1 is on the downswing, but children will continue to become ill," Vumbaco said.

Vumbaco said washing hands and getting vaccinated are important not only for the children, but for Santa as well.

"He should be receiving the vaccines," Vumbaco said, referring to the seasonal and swine flu vaccines. "We want Santa to be healthy too."

Due to shortages, the swine flu vaccine is still available

only to certain target groups, but Santas may qualify on the basis of medical conditions such as obesity.

"Judging by Santa's size and eating habits, I am assuming that moves him higher on the priority-groups list," Vumbaco said.

In fact, about two-thirds of all Santas in the United States are overweight, and about a third are morbidly obese, according to Ernest Berger, president of a group called Santa-America, which benefits needy children.

Since obesity is a pre-existing condition that may increase the risk of swine flu, many Santa organizations are concerned with the availability of the vaccine.

Swine flu has become such a worry that the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas held a seminar on the illness at a recent conference. The group also urged its members to use hand sanitizer and take vitamins to boost their immune systems.

Although Vumbaco emphasizes the importance of Santa getting the vaccine, he may have to wait until after the New Year if he is over 65 years old.

"Until he can get the vaccine, Santa must take extra care to cover his cough, wash his hands often, avoid contact with children who are visibly sick or coughing, and of course avoid touching his eyes, nose and mouth," Vumbaco said.

Vumbaco also stressed that if children have flu-like symptoms, parents should keep them home.

"It's a parental decision whether or not to let their children visit Santa," she said. "They have to weigh the risks and benefits."

Both Westfield mall and Stew Leonard's aim to protect Santa and the children who visit him, but neither business considered cancelling Santa this year.

"We definitely still wanted to have Santa here. It's a mall tradition that customers come to expect," said Madden.

"Santa Claus has a history with Stew Leonard's," said Liascos. "We would not go a season without him."

Information from The Associated Press is included in this story.

skondracki@record-journal.com

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