Employers in the U.S. are already having trouble booking one of Santa's helpers to visit kids ahead of the holiday.

The head of a professional Santa Claus School in Denver says this year, the region is down about 10 to 15% of St. Nicks.

According to the school, many older men are opting out of the job over concerns about being exposed to unvaccinated kids.

The alternative to an in-person visit is virtual or video visits.