Calgary Flames players, from left, centre Brandon Prust, right winger Fredrik Sjostrom and defenceman Mark Giordano celebrated after Prust scored the Flames fourth goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period of their season opener on October 1, 2009 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, AB
Photograph by: Colleen De Neve, Calgary Herald
CALGARY - While thousands of people stood in the cold for hours last week to be inoculated against the H1N1 virus, the Calgary Flames arranged for their players to receive the flu shots away from the crowds.
A spokesman for the hockey club said "most" of the team received the vaccine on Friday, a day before tight supplies spurred the province to restrict inoculations to only Albertans deemed to be at greatest risk.
The team didn't say if the players were inoculated with the same supply of vaccine Albertans are receiving, or if they'd somehow managed to make arrangements to get it elsewhere.
Alberta Health Services is looking into the matter.
A spokesman for the health board said if the Flames jumped the board's queue to get the shots it was a "mistake."
The hockey club suggests, however, that it spoke to someone with the health board beforehand.
"Last week, our team physicians worked with Alberta Health Services and assessed the risks on our team and the potential commotion and intrusion that sending the team to one of the locations would cause," said Flames spokesman Peter Hanlon in an e-mail to the Herald.
"Consequently, on Friday we invoked a process that was deemed appropriate at the time and was consistent with our physicians' and Alberta Health Services' direction."
A followup e-mail--seeking further information about where the inoculations were provided and the origin of the vaccine--was not returned. Players declined to comment.
Mark Kastner, spokesman for Alberta Health Services, said the board itself did not make any special arrangements for the Flames.
"Based on the process that was in place on Friday, that would have been a mistake and shouldn't have happened," Kastner said.
The news comes as the province prepares to unveil its plans today to reopen inoculation clinics in the province. When the clinics start up again later this week, they will focus on Albertans at greatest risk.
When the inoculation process began last week, Premier Ed Stelmach encouraged all Albertans to get the flu shot.
"Most of our players received the vaccine prior to the currently discussed priority program and consistent with the then-stated Alberta Health Services policy," Hanlon wrote.
He said the team also consulted the National Hockey League.
League spokesman Frank Brown said Monday that it recommended flu shots, but did not mandate them.
"Clearly, it's a legitimate health concern," he said.
Last week, Dr. Judy Mac-Donald, deputy medical officer of health in Calgary, said she would be upset if a prominent citizen jumped the H1N1 vaccination lineups.
The Calgary Stampeders have not made special arrangements for their football players, said Pat Clayton, team director of medical services.
"We're on a waiting list through our physicians'offices to eventually get the vaccine when it's available to the general population," he said.
tseskus@theherald. canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Calgary Flames players, from left, centre Brandon Prust, right winger Fredrik Sjostrom and defenceman Mark Giordano celebrated after Prust scored the Flames fourth goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period of their season opener on October 1, 2009 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, AB
Photograph by: Colleen De Neve, Calgary Herald
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Viri C
November 03, 2009 - 9:09 PM
Unbelievable. This shows the respect the team show for the elderly and their biggest fans kids. I don't know what made them "special" to jump the line. A mistake, sure don't try to pull my leg. I am smarter than that.
Bob
November 03, 2009 - 8:21 PM
Seems like they play cheap and dirty both on, and off the ice.
No surprise really.
Kevin
November 03, 2009 - 7:50 PM
Do you think though, that the flames would make excellent carriers and transmitters of the flu? I mean, they travel all over the continent every week.
Gross
November 03, 2009 - 7:32 PM
Olympic torchbearers and members of the torch team were also provided with the vaccine. Equally as disgusting, but I doubt we'll hear about this in any of the canada.com publications...which disgusts me even more!!
Who else got the special ?
November 03, 2009 - 7:31 PM
Anyone notice the Premier or Prime Minister or any of their cabinet ministers waiting in line? Of course not. Special rules for special people. 1/3 tax free salaries, Olympic tickets for free, golden pensions after six years and the a potentially live-saving flu shot at the expense of those that really need it. I wonder how they will all feel when one of those from a high-risk group who should have had the vaccine by now, dies?
CW
November 03, 2009 - 7:30 PM
I WAS WONDERING IF THE OLYMPIC ATHLETES OR THE TORCH CARRIERS
HAD RECEIVED ANY SHOTS ALSO . ANYONE HAVE ANY INFORMATION
ON THIS. I HEARD THEY DID BUT IT WASN'T FOR SURE.
JHC
November 03, 2009 - 4:10 PM
God forbid anyone miss an evening of sitting on their asses watching a hockey game. The players have work to do and far be it from us to stand in their way! Perhaps we all get drafted and get the good treatment?
Jennifer
November 03, 2009 - 3:36 PM
I am a front line health care worker who cannot get the vaccine.. due to the shortage!! Yet a hockey player who does not "work" front line or have any underlying health care conditions gets one? This is disgusting!
shaking my head
November 03, 2009 - 2:22 PM
okay so the alberta government supplied it to them. fine. those players had a right to decline the shot until there was more of the vaccine available, I'm betting none of them said "no"
Hockey Players
November 03, 2009 - 1:31 PM
Cmon get real people. The Calgary Flames players are worth more than you. They generate tens of millions of dollars in revenue. The average lackey sits back at a $30k a year job contributing nothing. Of course they should have gotten the flu shot first.
NNEDLE BOY
November 03, 2009 - 11:50 AM
Anyone doubt we have a two tier health system? I guess is you have money and influence, there are no tiers, period!!
Alison
November 03, 2009 - 11:06 AM
This week is supposed to be for those with underlying health conditions, the very old, the very young and health care workers. They don't fall under any of those categories. Not cool, Calgary Flames! Not cool at all!
Blue
November 03, 2009 - 10:24 AM
Absolutely disgusting!!!! So many at-risk people have been unable to get their shot because their health won't allow them to stand in line-ups for hours and these jerks get special treatment because they play hockey? I knew we lived in a sick country, but this takes the cake. I'd be willing to bet that all politicians have received their shot already and it was probably hand delivered to their office door. I thought the priority for the vaccine was for the most vulnerable, not the most famous.
Disgusted
November 03, 2009 - 10:23 AM
I am so sick of the celebrity sense of entitlement and and superiority to the people who pay their salaries. This is beyond morally reprehensible when one sees stories on the news of the terminally ill and front line providers having to either stand in line for hours or be turned away for their shots. The Flames have lost my respect and my support.
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god imagine if they waited in line like everyone else and then didnt reciece it and they all caught the flu and then went to another city and gave it to the entire city, now people they should get special treatment because i dont see any of you traveling to a different city on a daily basis as part of your job, im from bc im sick of athletes getting better treatment, but seriously they play in different cities each night . . .