SASKATCHEWAN (CBC) - This year's hire for the role of Santa at a Regina shopping centre is being told of a holiday wish from mall management: Get a swine flu shot.

"We've given that option to him but we encourage him to get it," Lisa Pegg, a spokeswoman for Regina's Northgate Mall, told CBC News.

She said that considering all the children that Santa will see, and the close contact, several precautionary measures will be in place this season.

"Santa's workshop station will have hand sanitizer when you pay for your photos," Pegg explained. "We've also prepared the Santa area to have Kleenex, another hand sanitizer [and] multiple changes of his white gloves."

She said she hoped parents would rethink a child's visit with Santa if the youngster has flu symptoms.

"If their children are showing symptoms and what-not, of course we would ask that they refrain from coming and come at a later time," Pegg said.

"Each person has to make their own decision, whether or not they want to bring their children in to have their photos taken or to come see Santa. And that's a personal decision."