"You want to pull my beard?" asked the jolly, older man in the familiar red suit seated in the middle of Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover. But when the young toddler’s face suddenly cringed with concern, he handed him back to his mother as the tears streamed down his face.
Children aren’t the only ones concerned over this encounter this year.
Santas are also balking.
Some are refusing to check their lists twice, until health officials put them first on the priority list for the H1N1 vaccine.
They argue each of the countless children they’ll entertain over the next six weeks could be a possible carrier.
Back at the mall in Anne Arundel County, our Santa doesn’t share that concern.
"I'm not worried about it at all. I'm immune to it," he said, “Even the reindeer didn’t get sick. Rudolph was fine.”
Howard County Health Officer, Dr. Peter Beilenson, agrees... pointing out middle to senior aged men are not among the high-risk groups.
"If I were a Santa Claus, I'd be much more worried about getting lung disease from the soot coming down the chimney every year on Christmas Day," said Beilenson.
The mall, itself, already takes steps to keep Santa safe and the germs out providing anti-bacterial hand wipes at every entrance.
"We absolutely encourage them to take one it they like,” said Mall Marketing Director Wendy Ellis, “We have reminder signs in our restrooms reminding folks to wash their hands. It's really all about the common sense things that we can do everyday."
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So at least the Santa manning his velvet bench at Arundel Mills Mall feels safe, and in addition to asking children what they want for Christmas this year, he’s asking them to help protect themselves.
"That's right. Get your shots,” he said, “It might hurt for a little bit, but sometimes that little bit will help avoid a big hurt."
Dr. Beilenson says teachers spend each day in the classroom exposed to students, and they’re not on the priority list.
With the limited supply of vaccine, he adds each dose that would go to a Santa would be keeping it from someone who is known to be at risk.
