Calgary Flames jump H1N1 Queue amidst Vaccination Clinic Closures

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | November 4, 2009 at 04:30 am

707 views | 41 Recommendations | 13 comments

Alberta Health and Wellness announced on Friday that vaccination clinics for the H1N1 vaccination throughout the Province would be temporarily suspended.

The Calgary Flames reportedly jumped the queue just prior to the suspension to clinics. It raises the question, what the priority system established by Health Canada and adopted by Alberta really means.

Amidst cuts to Health Care, including selective surgery, MRI reductions and apparent hiring freezes of Health Care Workers, it appears that Elitists and Professional sports can easily get those services, including the H1N1 vaccinations.

"I'm hearing from fans this morning and I intend to speak with them and try to help them understand why we would make a decision and what criteria under which we made that decision and again explain to them that we ... appreciate that not everyone will agree."

The NHL has had several players with confirmed cases of H1N1.

he Calgary Flames reportedly jumped the queue for H1N1 vaccinations, and that has some members of the Sea of Red seeing red.

The Flames received their shots Friday, one day before the province temporarily shut down clinics, saying they would eventually reopen but only be available to high-risk Albertans.

"I'm hearing from people," said Flames CEO Ken King.

"I'm hearing from fans this morning and I intend to speak with them and try to help them understand why we would make a decision and what criteria under which we made that decision and again explain to them that we ... appreciate that not everyone will agree."

The NHL has had several confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu.

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Mary Richard

at 06:13 on November 4th, 2009

The Flames and their families jumped ahead in line. (My local news said the Leafs are keeping information on their shots private.)

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:18 on November 4th, 2009

I bet this was organized by the NHL and they all received shots.

marianmo

at 07:07 on November 4th, 2009

there is no segment of society who should feel entitled to have special trearment...shame

Spydermonkey

at 07:30 on November 4th, 2009

It might have been more palatable if they had been open about this from the beginning instead of just doing it & trying to be quiet about it...

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 07:44 on November 4th, 2009

Both the authorities and the owners/managers could have done a better PR job and explained the reasoning. Now it will just be another investigation by our Majority Alberta gov and they will hope it dies before the investigation is complete.

darline martin (not verified)

at 08:59 on November 4th, 2009

Shame.....Hope they end up last in their division. Will not support them. It was like taking candy out of the mouths of babes, who are priority.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 12:08 on November 4th, 2009

Chief Medical Officer of Alberta apologized this morning. They are supposed release the details of their investigation sometime today.

Apology Not Acceptable (not verified)

at 12:36 on November 4th, 2009

Apologies mean nothing after the fact in this case..... and it will happen again.....examples need to be made.

Barbara McPherson

at 14:11 on November 4th, 2009

ACP you lose your bet. The Edmonton Oilers didn't get the vaccinations. And guess who their owner is -- a Rexall. The Flames farm team out here in Abbotsford BC also got vaccinations, reportedly with Alberta vaccine. It is unconciounable that the Flames would protect themselves against cancer patients and little kids.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 14:44 on November 4th, 2009

Well I hope I lost my bet about the Oilers. Yes I know who owns them. Rexall is owned by a good ole Edmonton boy. Whoo hoo.

LOL yeah why should the Flames get priority over me. Seriously though, with some 90 year old woman waiting to get a vaccination the other day for almost eight hours, how could they justify that. Women waiting for hours to get their children vaccinated just to be turned away themselves.

The Health Minister Liepert should be fired. There has been a Canada Health Pandemic Response Plan since January 2008 and these fools in Alberta didn't use it to prepare their plan.

newflameshater (not verified)

at 00:15 on November 5th, 2009

I heard they were running low all last week and that they probably would run low... the lines were hours long, firefighters, paramedics, cops and everyone else have to wait in line, so what do these hockey pri(ks do... cut some deal and con job a bunch of vaccine that high risk people could use. Granted the whole thing imunization thing has been handled poorly from the start, but why are these spoiled whiner millionaires any more important than anyone else? I don't see the stampeders kicking pregnant women, babies and other high risk people aside Is some jerk0ff hockeyplayer more important than a firefighter, what happens if 10% of firefigters get sick? people will die because of a shortage of firefighters... what happens if the flaming ba$stards get sick? Nothing... a few fans are sad because the flamers lost a game.. .whaaah! I'm a Calgarian too, born here even, and I hate these flaming whiners more and more every year with their entitled attitude. They do photo op short face shows occasionaly... it is like a job for them.. they do it because they have to and couldn p1ss on the rest of the public all the other time, the Stampeders on the otherhand do their charity work because they want to for the most part, they stay longer and are decent human beings to talk to.. not some spoiled rich baby who thinks they are too good to be a person like everyone else. The flames can go to hell.... and here's hoping they got a bad batch of vaccine and all develop Dystonia like that cheeleader chick did down in the USA