Santa on his way, vaccinated and free of quarantine restrictions — officials

FILE PHOTO: NORAD tracks Santa as he starts his journey as shown in this handout photo provided by North American Aerospace Defense Command Santa Tracker, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, December 24, 2014. Santa Claus has embarked on his annual Christmas Eve mission to deliver presents to millions of children after a smooth take-off from his North Pole base, at least according to U.S. military officials who track his reindeer-powered sleigh. REUTERS/NORAD/Handout

Santa Claus, vaccinated against COVID-19 and free of quarantine restrictions mere mortals face, was making his annual jaunt across the globe on Christmas Eve and being tracked by the U.S. and Canadian military, officials said on Thursday.

Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease official, said Santa was vaccinated against COVID-19 and could travel without risk of infection.

“I took a trip up there to the North Pole. I went there and I vaccinated Santa Claus myself,” Fauci said during Sesame Street’s coronavirus town hall meeting on CNN this week. “He is good to go.”

The director of Maine’s public health department said on Thursday his agency received a lab report from the North Pole confirming that Santa had antibodies and was negative for the virus.

“Data show that the vaccine he received from Dr. Fauci is working,” Dr. Nirav Shah wrote on Twitter.

Vermont Governor Phil Scott lifted his state’s quarantine restrictions for Santa, and the governors of New Jersey and New Mexico awarded Santa “essential worker” status.

“Effective IMMEDIATELY, Santa and Mrs. Claus, with their elves and reindeer – including Rudolph – are permitted to fly in and around New Jersey from Christmas Eve into Christmas morning,” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy wrote on Twitter.

FILE PHOTO: Jets track Santa as he starts his journey as shown in this handout artist’s rendition provided by North American Aerospace Defense Command Santa Tracker, December 24, 2014. Santa Claus has embarked on his annual Christmas Eve mission to deliver presents to millions of children after a smooth take-off from his North Pole base, at least according to U.S. military officials who track his reindeer-powered sleigh. REUTERS/NORAD/Handout

For the 65th year, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a joint U.S. and Canadian command, was tracking Santa on his reindeer-powered sleigh journey. NORAD was providing real-time animated updates online and answering inquiries from children on a Santa hotline.

“Because of the COVID pandemic we have had to adjust how we do business here to make sure everybody stays safe,” said Vice Admiral Michael Dumont of the U.S. Air Force, saying the number of volunteers involved was down from the usual 1,500.

The tradition began in 1955 when a girl hoping to phone Santa accidentally dialed the agency. U.S. Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup answered the call and assured the girl that Santa was en route.