Ireland's biggest stores are putting the Santa in sanitation this year as they introduce a range of measures to keep swine flu at bay.

Following last week's row in the US, where organised groups of department-store Santas demanded to be included in 'at-risk' groups for vaccination, Irish stores are insisting on hand sanitisation and gloves for Santa visits.

They will also erect signage reminding parents of swine flu prevention procedures.

According to a spokesman for St Stephen's Green Shopping Centre in Dublin, Santa "has spoken to relevant medical experts but he has been informed he is not within the high-risk category and therefore vaccination is not necessary.

"There is signage in place at the grotto asking parents to be mindful of sanitation and there are a number of anti-bacterial hand sanitisers on entrance and exit for visitors' use.

"There is a sanitised bin for tissues and all staff have been briefed to inform customers of same."

Brown Thomas's first Santa in 10 years is being brought in to raise money for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) and so large crowds are welcome.

But a spokeswoman said he will regularly use hand wipes and will wear gloves in order to prevent the spread of germs while staff have been instructed to regularly wipe down furniture with sanitising wipes.

A statement from Dundrum Town Centre in south Dublin said: "Based on advice and guidance received, the centre has had a health and safety procedure in place over the past number of months and will continue to monitor and update this stringent plan on an ongoing basis."

Arnotts also confirmed that its own grotto would be well-equipped with hand sanitisers.

Discussing the potential risks, Dr Eamon Shanahan of the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) said that up until recently, swine flu would have been difficult enough to avoid.

"A month or two ago I think there would have been considerable concern about it because at that time the rise of swine flu was very rapid," he said.

"Obviously we are past the peak at this stage. I think that on a public-health basis, as long as people continue to observe the guidelines, there shouldn't be an excess public health risk, but that is my own opinion.

"The younger you are the more likely you are to get it and the older you are the less likely: one could say that with Santa being 1,000 years old he is at no risk whatsoever."