It’s November. You know what that means-the Christmas shopping season is already beginning. But this year, New Brunswickers have more than fellow shoppers to compete against for the best deals. They are also battling the H1N1 pandemic and facing unprecedented questions and scenarios. At this time of year, uncertainty is affecting shopping habits.

Lisa Davis is a mom from the Salisbury area. Davis has not only started, but has already finished her Christmas shopping and she’s done it all without touching “one dirty cart”. This year, she did her shopping through the Sears catalogue.

Usually, Davis buys her gifts at Champlain Place in Dieppe. She prefers to physically go out and buy the presents, but convenience paired with swine flu attracted her to a more impersonal method.

“I’m doing it for the convenience and because I want to stay out of the malls,” she said.

Davis is encouraging her friends and family to take the same approach.

Colleen Parent-Meade, General Manager of Regent mall and McAllister place, says Davis represents a definite minority in New Brunswick shoppers.

“So far [H1N1] has not had an impact and our sales are showing us we’re not suffering an impact at this point,” says Parent-Meade.

Davis has made the transition from in-store shopping to catalogue shopping, but Parent-Meade doesn’t think the general public will make the same transition.

“I don’t know if our shoppers would actually turn to catalogue versus in-mall shopping. I think the catalogue shopper is typically a different clientele from the one that wants to go in and see the product, try the product on and touch the product.”

Parent-Meade isn’t taking the situation lightly though. She says all the Cadillac Fairview shopping centers (which include Champlain Place, Regent Mall and McAllister Place among others) are taking precautions.

“We have a comprehensive H1N1 pandemic plan in place. It has been in place for some time now and of course our priority is to continue maintaining a clean, safe, fun and comfortable environment for our guests.”

Some of the plan’s procedures include regular communication updates with staff, suppliers and retailers, additional training to staff, handwash posters in washrooms and increased cleaning frequency, especially in high-touch areas.

These measures don’t ease Davis’s mind when it comes to infected areas. She wants to avoid places of high contact whenever possible.

“At this point, until we get our shots, I don’t want to be over-exposed. I know I’m going to work everyday. Hayden’s going to school every day and my husband is involved with the public every day, but why over-expose yourself?”

Shelley Landsburg, Communicable Disease Program Consultant for the Provincial Government says the pandemic doesn’t  need to impact shopping. People can still go into public places because this year is similar to any other year with seasonal influenza; it has just hit us earlier and in the shape of another virus.

“It is transmitted in the same way. We think that people who are going shopping need to use their judgment; if they’re sick they should stay home. If they’re not sick and they feel well, they can go out and do their Christmas shopping.”

Davis and Parent-Meade agree on one thing: people will feel more comfortable and protected to do their shopping once the vaccine is offered to the general public. Landsburg says there is no concrete date of when the clinics will be open to more broad-based groups. There is no expected date because the vaccine supply expected has not been received from the manufacturers. Landsburg says this is consistent all over Canada. She isn’t sure why supply and demand isn’t matching up but says as the vaccine supply becomes more consistent at the expected levels, it will be offered to the general public.

“We promote the vaccine as your front line means to prevent getting sick, or getting really sick and from serious illness. Because of it coming in slowly, it may impact, and it may not, the number of people who get seriously sick.”

Landsburg says people are coming up with unique ways of dealing with their fear of becoming sick with H1N1. She says the important thing to remember is no matter what the virus is, it can be picked up anywhere one goes, so avoiding a specific place is unnecessary.

“My shopping won’t be curtailed because of the virus,” Landsburg says. “I think it’s really important for people to keep on with their lives, stay home when they’re sick until they feel better, listen to our information on the website and things we put out there because it changes daily and hopefully everyone will get their vaccine in due time.”